HIIT...do you see people doing it?

[TrainingGirl]

I was reading an article recently that mentioned HIIT(High Intensity Interval Training). And it got me thinking. When I was doing cardio, I always did HIIT. For one thing, I hate cardio so the quicker I can get it done, the better! Plus the benefits it offers regarding fat loss over steady state cardio just made it the better choice. But something I noticed...I was the ONLY one in my gym that ever did it. And I'm sure people were thinking what the heck is this chick doing speeding up then slowing down constantly. Do you find this in your gym? Do you notice anyone doing HIIT?

[Lisa~]

Only me and all my clients (current and former)! HA! Which happens to be a pretty good number of people.

[ParanoidAndroid]

I don' think I've ever seen someone do it. Going nice and slow on the elliptical seems to be the most poupular excersise. There's definitely a sentiment against vigorous or challenging work.

[Keith Scott]

I have seen a few, but mostly the slow, 45 min sessions of boredom. Same people, same 45 min same waist size

[OldGuy]

Never. When I did it I would get the strangest looks from people in the gym. But then again I get strange looks for pull-throughs, Bulgarian split squats and deadlifts.

[RacerBill]

Nope. I'm the only one as far as I can tell. There is an interval training setting on the stationary bike but I always use manual settings so I can adjust it when I want, to the settings I want. I'm sure it's amusing to watch me frantically mashing the buttons and the beginning and end of each interval.

[Alcoholiday]

just curious.

what is the comparison in health benefits/cardiovascular health between hiit and steady state. Is it basically anything that gets your heart beating, or what?

[TrainingGirl]

Originally Posted by OldGuy

Never. When I did it I would get the strangest looks from people in the gym. But then again I get strange looks for pull-throughs, Bulgarian split squats and deadlifts.

yeah...me too...i just love split squats! is that crazy? haha.

Keith...it's those people that give me dirty looks...the same waist size for a year doing the same exact walk on the treadmill every single day. And then they say they don't want to lift heavy like I do because it will make them too big...yeah...cause I'm just huge! Drop your twinkie and change your routine. Sorry for the rant...I just wish people would see what doesn't work and try something new that may just give them the results they want.

[TrainingGirl]

Originally Posted by Alcoholiday

just curious.

what is the comparison in health benefits/cardiovascular health between hiit and steady state. Is it basically anything that gets your heart beating, or what?

I always refer people to this when this question is asked... Alwyn's AFTERBURN - from the newsletter
...great info from Alwyn...a little lengthy but worth the read

[OldGuy]

It's funny. I've been going to the gym at 4 am the last few months. There are very few people there at that time. But there are these 3 ladies that come in and they are on the same aerobic piece of equipment for the 45 minutes I'm there. Never changes. And they don't change either. They look exactly the same as they did 3 months ago. I gave up wondering why people do certain things in the gym. But my biggest question here is "Why are they doing it at 4 am?" I'd be sleeping late and getting to this at 10 or later.

[Kevin T.]

It gets me all worked up every time my friend tells me she's going to go run on her treadmill for an hour. Its gotten to the point where I tell her not to even mention it. I've tried plentry of times but hey some people just don't want to change their ways.

[RedWifey]

Originally Posted by RacerBill

I'm sure it's amusing to watch me frantically mashing the buttons and the beginning and end of each interval.

This was soooo me today! I did CB's TT for Women from August (I know, I am a month late, but better late than never, right? and Jack's been sick) and so I was trying to do 2 minutes at 8/10 and 1 min at 3/10. I finally had to cut it back to 1.5 min at 8. I am telling you what: at 1 minute 20 secs I was mashing away, baby. As RedLefty would say it was "vomitastic."

The coolest thing about today's workout was unexpectedly meeting Michael there, and getting to smooch him in the gym!

[Jason B]

I never see anybody do it. It's the same way in the weight, people doing the same exercises, sets, reps, and weight every week. Their physique never changes, their performance never changes, but they somehow continue to think the next time they hit the nail the same way it's gonna go in. I've said it before, the definition of crazy is doing the same thing and expecting a different result.

[Frank.S]

Its just to hard.

My girlfriend was complaining about results in the gym, she does cardio and a whole bunch of high rep work. Ive give her a new plan which I think most would agree is quite good! but, she dropped the HIIT after about 2 weeks. It sucks to much. Yes your getting results, but if your dreading going to the gym everyday, its hard to do!

But I guess when your like almost any of us, its almost whatever it takes at times.

[Guido]

I do my cardio on the concept2 rowing ergometer. Increasing intensity is just a matter of pulling harder and going faster. No fidgeting with buttons for me! I program my interval distance or time, rest time and here I go.

To top it off I use an mp3-player strapped to my arm for inspiration. I must look like some kind of freak going into trance on satanic heavy-metal music.


The things I've seen at the cardio-theater at the gym! People riding the stationary bike at a leisurely pace while reading a book, walking on the treadmill while using a mobile phone, doing crosswords, sitting (yes just sitting) on the equipment to watch soccer on the large TV’s.

[Keith Scott]

Originally Posted by TrainingGirl

yeah...me too...i just love split squats! is that crazy? haha.

Keith...it's those people that give me dirty looks...the same waist size for a year doing the same exact walk on the treadmill every single day. And then they say they don't want to lift heavy like I do because it will make them too big...yeah...cause I'm just huge! Drop your twinkie and change your routine. Sorry for the rant...I just wish people would see what doesn't work and try something new that may just give them the results they want.

Yep, and these same people are chugging a gatorade along the way. Like the need it. So lets see, they burnt maybe 300 calories during that 45 min slow steady pace and put 300 back by drinking that gatorade with minimal fat burning.

[karky]

Originally Posted by OldGuy

Never. When I did it I would get the strangest looks from people in the gym. But then again I get strange looks for pull-throughs, Bulgarian split squats and deadlifts.

I know how you feel man, i was doing clean jerks the other day and this bodybuilder type stared at me like CRAZY in between his curl sets

But back on topic, ive never seen anyone in my gym do HIIT

[BFG]

Probably about 1/3rd. Many of the trainers in my gym advocate HIIT and I think its starting to spread. Anything has to be better than watching the droids plodding on the CV machines for an hour at a time then leaving to go next door to Piza Hut!