Fitness Tip of the Day: Thursday Total Body -- 30 Minute HIIT - The Great 8

I love HIIT workouts (high intensity interval training).  I use these all the time in my Express Interval class.  The great thing about this type of workout is that the "work" is only 20-60 seconds long.  Just keep saying to yourself, "I can do anything for 20-60 seconds."   Also, as I've stated in other posts, because you are "working" for such a short period of time, you can give it all you've got and in the long run, you'll burn more fat and calories than you would if you exercised at a steady pace for the same amount of time.

Today's workout is a 30 minute HIIT routine from RealFit TV that consists of a "block" of  8 exercises that are performed at a rate of 20 seconds of work 10 seconds of rest.  The block is repeated 5 times (the first time is a warm up) with a minute rest in between blocks.  The exercises chosen will give you a head to toe workout.  You only need a mat (or carpet) to do this routine.

Another great thing about this type of workout is that it's easy to change it up with different exercises.  Sometimes I do all cardio exercises, and sometimes I alternate between cardio and strength.  It's really pretty impossible to get bored, or to have your body become too conditioned to the moves because they can always be changing.

Again, the warm up block is pretty intense, so I would recommend doing the warm up video first.

Remember, modify if needed, and/or go slower if you need to to maintain proper form--form is always more important than speed.

Now HIIT it!