How Long Should Hiit Intervals Be?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

When performing HIIT, research suggests that the range of work and recovery for each interval be

15 seconds up to 2-3 minutes

in duration (depending on the ratio of work-to-recovery used). The total duration of a HIIT session should be about 30-60 minutes in length, with warm up and cool down included in that time.

How long should HIIT intervals be for fat loss?

Timing matters. A typical HIIT session should last anywhere

between 4 minutes (like Tabata) and 15 minutes

. Overuse injuries can arise if workouts are too long; cap HIIT workouts at 30 minutes.

How long should the intervals be?

Your intervals shouldn’t be minutes long, they should be seconds long — ideally

20 to 60 seconds

. Remember: The intervals are short so you can push yourself to the max. “The shorter a workout is, the more I dread it!” Avery says.

Is a 10 minute HIIT workout enough?

The reality is that

you can get a pretty good workout in just 10 minutes if you do it right

. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), just 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity activity (running, HIIT, etc.) is enough to keep you healthy and fit.

Can I do HIIT 5 days a week?


Gottschall recommends that you only introduce HIIT after at least six months of consistent exercise, doing a mix of cardio and resistance training across five days a week

. “At this point you can replace one cardio session with one or two shorter HIIT sessions, separated by two sleep cycles.”

Is 20 min HIIT enough?

ACSM recommends most adults engage in moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise for at least 30 minutes per day for five days per week for a total of 150 minutes per week.

Vigorous-intensity training, such as HIIT, should be at least 20 minute per day for at least three days per week or 75 minutes per week.

Is HIIT 3 times a week enough?

So how much HIIT should I do?

Two to three days a week is a solid amount of HIIT

, says Wong, as long as you build in 24 hours of rest and recovery between sessions. So if your goal is to work out four times per week, he recommends two HIIT sessions and two resistance training sessions.

How long does it take for HIIT to see results?

If you are looking to increase cardiovascular fitness and VO2 max, HIIT can offer results in

6-8 weeks

. If you are looking to lose fat using HIIT, the results are 100% dependent on your ability to place yourself in a calorie deficit, which HIIT can help with, but is not the only factor involved in weight loss.

Is 15 min HIIT enough?


Yes, a 15-minute workout is all you need — if you focus and push

. The beauty of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is that you’re working your heart at close to max effort (85-95%), so you burn a ton of calories while building superior cardiovascular strength in almost no time at all.

How long should you rest between intervals?

A Common Guideline:

One of the most common guidelines for how much rest you should take between track intervals is

between 50-100% as long as the repeat

. So if you run 8X400s and finish each one around 90 seconds, you will want to take between 45-90 seconds per interval.

Do you need rest days from HIIT?

Because HIIT forces you to work to max exertion with minimal rest,

you need to take some recovery days in between your sessions to allow your muscles to re-charge

. Doing HIIT two to three times a week is enough to reap its benefits without going overboard.

Can you do HIIT every day?

HIIT is a great, safe, and effective workout, but

there’s no need to do it every day

. Keep it to three times per week. You’ll still reap the benefits and give your body time to recover properly.

Are intervals better than running?

The bottom line.

Interval running is an efficient and effective way to improve your aerobic and anaerobic fitness, as well as your cardiovascular health

. Generally, interval workouts require less total time than traditional distance running and allow greater intensities during the workout itself.

Can you burn 100 calories in 10 minutes?


An equipment-free 10 minutes on level ground can still burn 100 calories if you’re keeping your intensity levels up and doing the right weight-bearing exercises

.

How many calories does a 15 minute HIIT workout burn?

By incorporating high intensity interval training, or HIIT, into your fitness routine, you can cut down on the time you spend exercising while still getting a quality workout. Using this 15-minute circuit with the five exercises below, you can easily burn

150 calories or more

. Pinned on Pinterest.

Can I do HIIT 2 days in a row?

Since HIIT in particular involves every muscle group in the body,

you should only be doing it every other day at most to give your body time to rebuild

, Gallucci said. But any form of cardio that’s light-to-moderate intensity is A-okay to do daily, unless that involves targeting one specific area especially hard.

Can I do 1 hour of HIIT?

1 hour HIIT workout

What it’s good for: HIIT can help you build muscle endurance and improve your cardio fitness, and this workout will also work your entire body. But because each interval is meant to be intense,

you shouldn’t keep going for minutes on end even if you have a whole hour to fill

.

How many calories burned 20 mins HIIT?

In the full twenty minutes of this routine, a person could burn between 9-13 calories a minutes. During the actual HIIT part of the workout, a person likely burns more along the lines of

12-16 calories a minute

.

Is it better to do HIIT or cardio first?


Many say that it’s better to perform your cardio beforehand

, as it gets your heart rate up and can serve as a warm-up for your body. Performing some cardio right before you weight train can be a nice warm up, but you can also target your warmup. For example, if you’re working chest, try warming up on a rower.

Is HIIT enough for fat loss?


HIIT burns more fat than lower-intensity workouts

.

If you’re specifically targeting body fat, HIIT is a good choice. A 2019 review found that people burned almost 29 percent more fat through HIIT workouts than through more moderate-intensity workouts.

Is HIIT better than cardio?



HIIT is a great way to lose weight in less time

. Most people can burn the same number of calories in a 20-minute HIIT workout than they can in performing constant cardio or strength training for 45 minutes. HIIT also increases lung capacity and blood flow within the body.”

Can you do HIIT 6 days a week?

HIIT done wrong could lead to injuries, burn out, and loss of motivation to continue. Realize that your body can only handle so much intense exercise per week.

If you attempt to do HIIT and full-body weight lifting sessions 5 or 6 days a week, it’s only a matter of time before your system crashes

.

What is the correct way to do HIIT?

HIIT is a combination of brief, very-high intensity bursts of cardio exercise followed by equal or longer periods of rest. Think

30 seconds to a minute of sprinting, followed by a minute or two of walking or slow jogging. Repeat this cycle for just 10 minutes

, and you’ll complete a HIIT workout.

Can I alternate HIIT and weights?


Yes, HIIT can be done with weights

, and combining them is one of the most effective ways to maximize fat burn and improve heart health.

Can you get toned from HIIT?

When you use HIIT for lean fitness, by moving from one exercise to the next without rest, you are able to benefit from an incredible intensity to your workout.

You will get great tone and strength from the exercise moves

, but completing them in a circuit with little rest will enable you to benefit from aerobic output.

How do you know if HIIT is working?

  1. Are You Out Of Breath?
  2. Is Your Heart Rate Increasing?
  3. Are You Feeling The Burn?
  4. Are You Keeping It Short And Simple?
  5. Are You Adding Restorative Work To Your Routine?

Does HIIT make you bulky?

HIIT exercises do build muscle, which is a good thing, as it helps your metabolism. But

doing too much HIIT, or the wrong type of HIIT exercises, can cause you to gain unwanted bulky muscle

.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.