When it comes to getting the most bang for your workout buck, high-intensity interval training — or HIIT — is hard to beat.
By frequently changing up your pace and type of movement, HIIT challenges the body in a unique way. By alternating between spurts of more intense exercise and rest periods you can speed up the metabolism , build muscle, burn fat and increase endurance. Plus, HIIT workouts don't only allow you to burn more calories during the workout itself, but afterward as well. This is because the style of training creates an “after-burn effect,” in which you burn more calories while at rest.
It doesn’t have to be complicated to turn your workout into a HIIT routine. For example, adding a set of sprints to your run, or a set of jump squats to your regular squats, will do t