Quick & Dirty or Steady in 30?

Should you be doing High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) or Low Intensity Steady State Cardio (LISS)?

It depends on what you’re hoping to accomplish with your workouts.

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) requires you to execute a certain exercise at maximum physical effort for a minute or two. You then rest for two to three minutes. This cycle repeats with different exercises until you are exhausted, which is roughly five times. HIIT includes exercises like burpees, mountain climbers, and jumping jacks.

Low Intensity Steady State Cardio (LISS) is aerobic exercise that requires you to operate at 60-70% capacity for at least 20 minutes. The intensity does not change through the entire workout. LISS exercises include walking, cycling, jogging, and swimming.

HIIT burns more calories, takes less time per workout, and builds lean muscle mass. There is greater chance of injury, and you can’t do it every day.

LISS improves cardiovascular health without building muscle mass, has a shorter recovery time, and is great for beginners. However, it can get boring and repetitive.

Listen in as fitness experts, Grace DeSimone and Neal Pire, discuss these two styles of cardio.