Difference Between High Intensity Interval Workouts and Slower Cardio Workouts
When it comes to cardio, there are two categories: slower, sustained cardio and high-intensity interval training, or mostly sprints . The first is enjoyable and tedious, the second is challenging and loved by fitness enthusiasts. Both have their merits, but here’s how to know when one makes more sense than the other.
Running 45 minutes at a good pace is a good example of sustained cardio. You benefit a lot from exercise and probably feel great afterward. The main problem is that this is still 45 minutes of your time. In contrast, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is short and bittersweet: you get the same cardio benefits in less than half the time, but it’s so unpleasantly intense that you might feel sick afterwards . And because it’s so intense, you continue to burn calories (a little ) long after you’re done. If you care about your body and the time you spend, HIIT is for you.
However, HIIT has its drawbacks: It is so demanding on your body that you only have to do it a few times a week, and it is easy to get injured. Some people don’t have heart or joint health at all to cope with HIIT. Meanwhile, steady state cardio is a safer option for most people, can be done more often, and is a way to actively recover from heavy workouts. Both have a place in your daily routine, so do what you can fit into your daily routine and enjoy doing (but don’t overdo it).
High intensity interval training (HIIT) versus sustained cardio – which is better? | Picturefit