Have You Tried HIIT?
by Ngozi Osuagwu, MD | November 25th, 2018
My friends were teasing me when I informed them that I signed up for the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Some of them had received the mailing when they turned 50 but felt they were still too young to sign up. Although I originally signed up because of the discounts that I receive on car rentals, I have enjoyed reading the monthly newsletter especially the health section. This month had information on high- intensity interval training (HIIT). I had heard about HIIT in the past but associated it with elite athletes – I never thought that it would be accessible to me or easy for me to incorporate into my current exercise routine.
HIIT is where you have brief bursts of very intense exercise followed by periods of slower, less-demanding work. According to the AARP article, HIIT is an effective way to build muscle, regulate insulin, cut fat and increase heart function. You can get the benefits in as little as 10 minutes, three times a week. It is not recommended to do it daily. The other two days, you can incorporate strength training exercises.
I started at 10 minutes and now I am up to 30 minutes. What I like most is that I do not have to go to a gym. I can do it in the comfort of my home. I wish I knew about this type of exercise years ago way before I was eligible for AARP. Since I started HIIT, I look forward to getting on my stationary bike.
For more information on HIIT and how to start, please click here for the article in the AARP newsletter.
