As we hear more about HIIT workouts lately, the concept may seem like a fad. However, the principles behind HIIT are well known, especially to anyone who has played organized sports or even practiced a martial art like boxing.<\/p>\n
HIIT simply stands for High Intensity Interval Training. And that is exactly what it sounds like \u2013intervals. The interval is a key concept of the HIIT regimen. HIIT is sustained high exertion, often called “anerobic” exercise because the key feature is to push past oxygen depletion for a brief time, HIIT allows for the body to create an “afterburn” effect that encourages the cells in your body to rid themselves of excess and toxic products and to replace the oxygen and energy need to initiate the next set.<\/p>\n
Because you are pushing beyond your limits, you cannot sustain the effort for an extended period of time. And this is where the anerobic benefits of HIIT come into play. As the body is stressed by exercise and exertion, one’s muscles build<\/a> up what is known as “Lactic Acid” \u2013 a by-product of exertion and accompanying oxygen depletion. Once the HIIT session is over a cascade effect takes place withing the cells of your body. Known as Excess Post Exercise Oxygen Consumption, or EPOC, this process replenishes your cells with extra oxygen while removing Lactic Acid.<\/p>\n \n