HIIT it!

If you've never tried a HIIT workout, it's about time you start mixing them into your weekly exercise routine. HIIT, or High Intensity Interval Training, involves bursts of maximum effort exercises followed by short periods of low intensity exercise or recovery.

So why should you do HITT? This type of training is an excellent way to boost your metabolism. Because you are working out at such a high intensity, your body's need for oxygen skyrockets, resulting in an oxygen shortage, which means that your body will also require more oxygen during your recovery as well. This creates an after burn effect that allows you to continuously burn calories for several hours after your workout, and who doesn't want that?!

HIIT workouts are also much more efficient and convenient than your standard hour long cardio session. The typical HIIT workout is about 30 minutes and can be done practically anywhere. Most of these workouts require no equipment and rely on pure body weight exercises. No time for the gym? Too lazy to leave the house? Those excuses aren't going to fly anymore!

The high intensity intervals can include anything from burpees to sprints to lunges, and everything in between. Though the type of workouts can vary, they all are sure to get you breathing heavy and your heart pumping in a short amount of time. Some HIIT workouts consist of 30-45 seconds of high intensity exercises, followed by 15 seconds of rest/ low intensity exercises. Others consist of doing a series of high intensity exercises each for 30-45 seconds, followed by a rest period before repeating the set. If you are someone who loves the cardio machines at the gym, there are even HIIT workouts designed for the treadmill or elliptical where you can adjust the speed, incline, and resistance to keep your heart rate constantly changing.

Here is a great example of HIIT workout to get you started! It may look easy, but you'll definitely be dripping sweat by the end.

                    

If you're looking for an awesome way to boost your metabolism and burn that stubborn fat,  then HIIT workouts are definitely the way to go. You don't have to replace all your workouts with HIIT, but just doing it once or twice a week can do wonders for you. Quick, exciting, and a fat blaster...what more could you want out of a workout?