Comments on: HIIT Training, are you really doing it?

By: Earle

Earle — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:50:19 +0000

And this is the main reason I like http://www.brinkzone.com. Killer pposts.

By: Dack

Dack — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:15:13 +0000

here is a routine i made of my own

1 minute walk
3 minute jog
1 minute sprint
1 minute rest
repeat 4 more times
total time 30 mins???? would this be effective and if so how many times a week?

By: kevin

kevin — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:57:57 +0000

I believe that the quads are the only muscle group that can work hard enough to deplete oxygen. A heart rate above 90% can’t be achieved using any other muscle group. Technically, sitting in a sauna could qualify as HIIT because the heart is working near maximum capacity as it tries to cool the body.

kevin

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:21:49 +0000

Ya your right, cable rows would not work. It is unfortunate that so many gyms have at most only one or two outdated ergs but ten to twenty treadmills.

By: Fairlane

Fairlane — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:35:14 +0000

I would love the option to use a rowing machine but my gym doesn’t have one. Would cable rows be a substitute? bah, probably not, not enough leg use. Oh well.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 05:07:44 +0000

If you are fortunate enough to have an erg (rowing machine, like a concept 2) at your home or gym, this is a great way to do HIIT. I used to row for my college and we did this regularly. Like the stairstepper, you change the speed based on how much you put into it. Also the erg uses just about every muscle in your body so it burns a tremendous amount of calories and can put on some muscle.

By: Fairlane

Fairlane — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:07:18 +0000

I like to use the jump rope when doing my HIIT. I can only go for 20 seconds, running in place, then rest for 1 minute. I can’t do more than 10 minutes. Same with the stairstepper (Will might remember me asking about it on his fatlossrevealed site a while ago). I thought I was doing it wrong because I couldn’t even do like 5 minutes before conking out. Can’t wait to go back to it.

By: kevin

kevin — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:20:54 +0000

Hi Will,

I was doing HIIT thirty years ago. You probably were too. But back then it was called “Wind Sprints”. On the varsity football team we did 50 yard wind sprints, in full gear including helmet, until everyone had barfed at least once. You crossed the start line, came back to the line and waited. A soon as the last runner crossed, you took off again. So the fastest runners got the longest rest period. The slowest didn’t even get to catch their breath. We had to do 10 or 20 or more, based on how pissed off the coach was that day.

As you mentioned, the goal it to get your heart rate to better than 90% of maximum. Few people know what their maximum is. These days the only way I can do it is on a treadmill. I set it at 10% incline and run at 6MPM for one minute then jump off for a minute, then do it again. I can usually do six or eight , then I’m toast. I started these a year ago, using 8% grade and running 4MPH.

kevin

By: Will Brink

Will Brink — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:54:34 +0000

I’m not sure I am following you here Tom, not to mention, you apply to me what was actually written by Mr Krieger. I cover interval training, and say it’s a valuable way to train. There is no mention of their only being only 2-3 choices. Regardless, what Mr Krieger is saying, which I quoted (because he’s correct) is that it takes a higher level of fitness and motivation to do HIIT correctly, and it’s not for everyone, nor is it recommend for everyone. It may not be for you for example, which is fine too…good luck with your training.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:25:19 +0000

While I appreciate the article and generally don’t like to leave negative comments, I found the last last paragraph to be rather weak in terms of logic, not to mention insulting, and it really pulls down the entire piece.

It assumes there are only 2 (or 3 ) choices, HIIT and slow to moderate continuous. What about interval training? What about higher intensity continuous? If we choose intervals over HIIT are we “unmotivated” or otherwise unable (injured/heart disease or whatever is being implied)? What if fat loss is a secondary goal or we perceive the risk of injury to outweighs the benefit, etc. ….

I guess it was the word “unmotivated” that got my hackles up, cause I’m real motivated and still not convinced that HIIT needs to be in my program.