Motivational Post: Getting started with HIIT

We live in a world obsessed with optimization. With finding the perfect routine, the ultimate life hack, the single best way. We research, we plan, we prepare ad infinitum. And often, we get stuck. Stuck in the planning, stuck in the fear of not doing it perfectly.

When it comes to fitness, this paralysis is all too common. We see the sculpted physiques, the marathon runners, the CrossFit champions, and we think, "I could never do that." But what if the goal wasn't to be the best, but simply to be better?

Enter High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). I have written extensively about HIIT in the past emphasizing its benefits to one’s health (QH).  It's not a magic bullet, but it's a powerful tool. A tool for those who are ready to embrace the idea that "good enough" is often the best starting point.

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is "an exercise strategy alternating periods of short intense anaerobic exercise with less-intense recovery periods. The original protocol set a 2:1 ratio of work to recovery periods, for example, 30–40 seconds of hard sprinting alternated with 15–20 seconds of jogging or walking. The entire HIIT session may last between ten and thirty minutes, meaning that it is considered to be an excellent way to maximize a workout that is limited on time." 

HIIT, at its core, is about short bursts of intense effort followed by brief recovery periods. Think 20 seconds of all-out sprinting followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated for a few rounds. It's efficient, it's effective, and it's adaptable.

And the benefits? They extend to all aspects of one's health: Improved cardiovascular health, increased insulin sensitivity, enhanced fat and calorie burning, a boost in metabolism.

The beauty of HIIT is its low barrier to entry. You don't need fancy equipment or a gym membership. You can do it anywhere, anytime: Your living room, a park, a hotel room.

The key is intensity. Not duration, not complexity, but intensity. Push yourself during those work intervals. Embrace the burn. And then, just as importantly, embrace the recovery.

So how do you start? You just start. Pick an exercise. Jumping jacks, burpees, high knees.

Set a timer. 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off. Repeat. 4 rounds, 8 rounds, or even 12 rounds. Listen to your body and adjust as needed (i.e. make sure not to overexert yourself).

The hardest part isn't the workout itself. It's overcoming the inertia, the resistance, the voice in your head that says, "I'll start tomorrow." But tomorrow never comes. There's only today.

So, are you ready to embrace the HIIT mentality? Are you ready to just start? The path to better begins with a single step. Take it.