IS HIIT RIGHT FOR YOU?

Charles Maragianis

Introduction Sales professional Charles Maragianis serves as branch

manager at Augment Consulting in Raleigh, North Carolina. Charles Maragianis earned his bachelor of Science in business administration from Framingham State University in Framingham, Massachusetts, and since then has had over 20 years of experience in sales. He enjoys learning about physical fitness and makes time for regular exercise.

High intensity interval training, or HIIT, is a type of exercise that is characterized by short bursts of exercise performed at near-maximum effort, followed by brief periods of very low intensity exercise. The ratio of time spent on high and low intensity is usually either 2:1 or 1:1. Originally designed for elite athletes looking to sharpen their competitive edge, HIIT training has grown in popularity with physical fitness enthusiasts in recent years.

HIIT Benefits of HIIT include time efficiency, as workouts last

30 minutes or less, and burning fat without losing muscle. HIIT has also been shown to lower blood glucose levels and improve cardiovascular health. However, HIIT comes with risks as well; since exercises are performed at top effort, those who are not yet fit may have a higher potential for injury.

Individuals desiring to try HIIT can mitigate the risk of injury by practicing good self-awareness in order to challenge their bodies safely, talking to a medical professional before beginning a HIIT program, and hiring a personal trainer to demonstrate how to properly execute the exercises.