I got to the gym one night last week and knew I only had about 45 minutes total in me to get a good sweat in. I’ve been MIA from our gym this summer because I took advantage of every possible opportunity to enjoy the weather and run, but have just been getting back in to the swing of things adding some more weight lifting and cross training in to my routine. I went to the gym with the intention of spending most of the time with some weights but I’m one of those people that doesn’t feel successful after a workout if I haven’t broken much of a sweat. I hopped on the treadmill to jog a little bit but was feeling good so I decided to switch up my speeds and inclines to get my heart rate up and create just a tad more intense cardio workout for myself. I ended up enjoying the first half of my run so I repeated the same sequence and pushed myself a little more at the end. Because I walked off the treadmill after a short 20 minutes, dripping in sweat and ready to weightlift, I wanted to share it with you!
This is great if you’ve only got a little bit of time to dedicate towards a workout and are craving a good sweat. There is some evidence that fifteen minutes of a HIIT (high intensity interval training) is more beneficial that even an hour of just jogging at the same pace/intensity. HIIT workouts ensure you burn calories/fat longer after your workout ends, can increase metabolism, and is overall really good for your heart. This was a weekend that I definitely feel like I maxed out on my “treat yourself” opportunities (note: Barbecue Brisket Nachos. Drool) so I’ll likely be hitting up this treadmill workout a couple times this week.
What are your favorite HIIT workouts? When do you feel like you get your best sweat in? Do you have any suggestions for great workouts in under 30 minutes?
