Quote:Quote:
So, what does your HIIT workout look like?
Empty stomach, first thing in morning?
Yup. Exactly. That's the best time to work out, imo.
My workout varies. I don't do much cardio, but if I did it would be wind sprints. I know from my sports days that everything else pales in comparison as far as getting in cardio shape is concerned. Additionally, they best keep in line with HIT principles.
As far as everything else goes, whatever it is for the day, I just try and keep maximum tension on my muscles with the maximum weight that I can handle. So, its usually 4-6 reps. But they are reps where I move very slowly. The extended tension on the muscle is what builds strength, not the reps.
I like using bands because I don't need a spotter and I can do it in my limited space at my house. But I use 2 100 lbs bands on each handle, currently, if I'm working out my chest for instance. You have to get heavy bands if your using a band system to make it worthwhile. Yeah, I would definitely prefer free weights. But I don't have the room here and I don't have a gym membership. For now, the bands work well as long as I keep the tension high and the reps low.
Also, a big consideration is to make SURE that your breath rate stays even and calm when you lift weights. If your breath rate becomes elevated, your body is going to start to release catabolic hormones and you are no longer conditioning your body anaerobically, but aerobically. Aerobic and anaerobic conditioning are at hormonal odds with one another, and so you are counteracting your progress with weights if you lift with an elevated breath rate. Stopping before your breath gets elevated, and working to keep it low, is one of the best ways to make sure that you are lifting slow enough to make a maximal anabolic impact on your body.
Yes, your breath rate gets elevated when doing wind sprints. However its best to think of it like this: Wind sprints are the best way to keep aerobic conditioning as close to anaerobic as possible. So, your still training aerobically, but in a way that has maximum anaerobic/anabolic impact and minimum catabolic impact for an
aerobic workout.
The last consideration is to take enough time between workouts. When you train with HIT, you need much more time in-between workouts. Remember that your muscle builds in-between workouts, and if you don't give it a chance to do so without breaking it down again with lifting then you won't realize the maximum benefit of all of your effort. I wait at least 6-7 days before working out the same muscle group again when doing HIT. Thats because HIT is designed to put maximum stress on your muscles, and so the bodies adaptation and recovery from that stress (muscle building) takes longer.