Which is better? HIIT Training or Steady State?

....First ask yourself, What is your goal? Both cardio training systems improve a number of important health and fitness factors, Your blood pressure drops, improves your metabolism and VO2 max (VO2 Max is a measure of the maximum volume of oxygen that an athlete can use; and is measured in milliliters per kilogram of body weight per minute).

Soo...HIIT training creates an after burn known as EPOC (excess-post exercise oxygen consumption). You increase your metabolism and burn more calories for up to 24 hours after interval training, Similar to how a car’s engine remains warm after being turned off, once your workout is over and your back to your daily routine your body’s metabolism continues to burn. HIIT improves your capacity to transition smoothly from burning fat before your workout and during rest periods to burning carbohydrates during your work intervals and back again known as your metabolic flexibility”

Whereas going for a jog burns almost NO calories after.

BUT! Steady-state cardio is aerobic and majority of physical functions from digestion to breathing to everyday movements like walking, standing, and sleeping are powered by the aerobic system. Activities that are anaerobic, including HIIT, depend on the aerobic system to help restore the body to a neutral state after each work interval and after the workout itself. Steady-state cardio can cause unique adaptations in the heart. HIIT training can make your heart beat so fast that the left ventricle which stores oxygenated blood momentarily before pumping it out, can’t refill completely between contractions. At a slightly lower intensity and a lower heart rate, the left ventricle fills completely before it contracts, which causes it to grow in capacity and pump more blood with each contraction over time. This triggers your heart rate to drop substantially, both at rest and during exercise. Which is a good thing!!! A lower heart rate isn’t just an indication of a healthy and high-functioning cardiovascular system

Don’t make the mistake of trying to excel at HIIT and steady-state cardio at the same time. Remember, the two systems place different demands on your body..A better approach is to switch them on a regular basis. You’ll reduce your chance of injury, stave off boredom and fitness plateaus, and stay lean and healthy.

Brogan Walkely (Floor Manager) One to One Gym