Exercise Steady State Cardio vs. High Intensity Interval Training

Compare to types of cardio training (HIIT and Steady State) and choose the one right for you!

HIIT Cardio or Steady state cardio - what is better

The word cardio makes some newcomers and senior gym goers cringe at the thought of exercising on a boring machine for X amount of time.

There are a few things to consider when deciding on what type of cardio is best for you. First we will go over the two main variations which are High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Steady State Cardio.

HIIT Cardio

HIIT cardio is max out effort for a desired period of time followed by a period of lower intensity. Also,  HIIT cardio is based on going back and forth for the desired amount of reps.

Steady State Cardio

Steady State is everyones’ basic cardio plan. It usually consists of thirty minutes to an hour of reading the closed captions on the TV in the gym while multitasking on your desired equipment.

Both of these variations have their benefits when it comes to improving ones cardiovascular system and improving aerobic conditioning. After all, anything is better than nothing right?

Pick Your Best

When determining what type of cardio is right for you, think about your goals and how you wish to achieve them. For example, if you are an avid marathon runner training for long distances then steady state is what will help you train for the event you are preparing for. If you are short for time and looking to ignite your body’s ability to burn fat, then HIIT cardio might be for you.

When deciding on which type is best for you, ensure that you consider safety as a priority. For some training at max heart rate for any period of time can be harmful. For others distance may cause long term joint injuries. Both types have their ups and downs and it is important to decide what works best for you!

An example of HIIT cardio:

Stair Master max effort 30 seconds 65% effort for 30 seconds and back up to max 4-7 times no break.

An example of Steady State cardio:

Treadmill Run 30 minutes continual pace.

With the summer here and traveling on our minds it is still important to focus on our goals. Do not stop all the progress we have made this winter! Reach out and lets get started developing your custom plan to melt that last bit of fat you have been trying to shed!

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