HIIT or High Intensity Inverval Training High Cardio at the gym, what I'm doing

     So I've been trying to lose weight, and have been going to the gym since the beginning of January, at least three times a week, with my goal being 3 times a week.  I don't need to lose much weight, my clothes are just painfully tight and buying new/bigger ones is just giving in.  At the gym I have been doing Zumba and other Aerobic classes, thinking that would be enough.  Well I was wrong, after 2 months my clothes didn't feel any better!  So it was time for a new tactic, and off to Google I went!

     Searching has brought new to my new favorite fitness site Body Building.com. Yes by the name and by most of the pictures on the site, it makes it look like this is made for people who really want to bulk up and yes they do tell you how to do that.  But that is not the only part of the site, there are all sorts of fitness plans and articles and it really is just awesome!  They suggested the best fat burning exercise is HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) especially with cardio!

High Intensity Interval Training, HIIT for short, is doing a mix of intense cardio, about 80% of your max heart rate, then slowing it down to about 40% of your max heart rate.  Now what is your max heart rate?  Well there are several equations to figure this out.  Brian Mac's website has a fair amount and explains the % of error that is found with each one, the error % is very  small.

     Once your know your max heart rate, you'll need a cardio machine with the heart rate monitors on them (this is mainly what I do), buy a heart rate monitor, or they also have apps for phones!  I have tried the phone apps and they surprisingly work, I didn't know that was even a thing!  Defiantly try it out!  The one I use is Instant Heart Rate.  Most of the cardio machines I have used have an interval button, which is what I normally do, but Built Lean also has a good beginner's guide if you want to do it outside.

     Now between doing HIIT Cardio, I have also been pushing myself to go 4 times a week, and after the first week of making these changes I lost 2 lbs!!!!

So try it out and see if it helps you lose weight too!