High-Intensity Training at Home

By Holly Schoch , last updated December 11, 2011

High-intensity interval training is by far the best way to burn unwanted fat quickly, and the great thing about these programs is that they can be done from the comfort of your own home. There are a number of different ways you can create great routines that fall into the category of high-intensity interval training, also known as HIIT. HIIT routines are built around the premise of alternating intensities. For example, you would jog at a moderate level or two minutes and then sprint for a minute to drastically alter your heart rate. What your heart rate should be will vary per individual. It is important that you check what the recommended average and maximum heartbeat per minute is for your particular height, weight, and age. This will play an important factor in your workout.

Insanity

Insanity, a video series produced and sold by BeachBody, is an incredible routine that you can do at home. It comes with a number of different DVDs that you do according to their schedule. Insanity is so effective because rather than doing traditional HIIT training where you go from relatively long periods of moderate activity to a short burst of intense activity, they reverse it. The trainer has you do two to three-minute bursts of intense activity with a thirty-second break. You will see the pounds melt off you if you stick with the workout schedule and follow the diet plan.

Nike Training Club

For those with an iPad, you can download Nike Training Club. This is geared more towards women, though men can certainly do the workouts as well. They have a ton of different options to choose from and you can do all the workouts from the comfort of your living room. All you have to do is get a medicine ball and a set of dumbbells to complete most of the exercises.

Personalized Routines

You can also make up your own HIIT routines. You can do HIIT sessions on practically anything. You can do it while running, while on the bike, or even if you are doing moves in your home. The key is that you get your heartbeat down and then you get it back up. The reason this works so effectively is because it keeps your body guessing. It isn’t able to figure out what to do next to regulate itself and conserve energy, so your body is in constant overdrive during the routine. If you have a stationary bike in your home, do level one or two for a minute, go to level five or six for two minutes, and then go to level nine or ten for a minute.

Complete this cycle three to four more times. Remember, it isn’t about how fast you are going on the bike but what your heart rate is, so increasing the intensity is a great way to do HIIT. If you aren’t sure what your heart rate is, purchase a heart rate monitor for $30-40 at your local sports store.

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