This Simple Trick May Help You Finally Enjoy High-Intensity Workouts

If you’re a fan of HIIT, AKA high-intensity interval training, you know that sprint workouts are awesome because they’re super efficient. Alternating between bursts of hard work and rest, you go from zero to sweat in record time, and then you’re done! There’s no reason to spend an hour on the elliptical when you could finish faster with a 20-minute HIIT workout, right? If you’re not already into HIIT, though, treadmill sprints or a tabata kettlebell workout can feel like absolute torture. Blerg. Lucky for you, science has a suggestion that might make your high-intensity exercise a little more bearable.


A new study recruited 20 men and women who hadn’t done HIIT before to find out how much and under what circumstances they enjoyed the workout. What the research demonstrates is pretty interesting: While none of the participants had a feeling one way or the other about high-intensity exercise before the study, they rate their session of HIIT where they got to listen to music much higher than the one without. It’s logical that music can make working out more fun, but when you’re already rushed for time, you might not be thinking about your perfect playlist. 

Because this is a crazy-simple fix, if you haven’t tried it yet, it’s definitely worth a go. The awesome thing about HIIT is that it’s adaptable to pretty much any exercise, from bodyweight faves like burpees and push-ups to sessions on cardio machines like treadmills or rowers. You can even do it with a boxing or dance workout! Plus, HIIT is capped at 30 minutes, making it an amazing option for an already-hectic schedule. “Newer research has established that as little as 10 minutes of intense HIIT, three times per week can elicit meaningful heath benefits,” shares Ph.D. candidate and study co-author Matthew Stork in a press release. “For busy people who may be reluctant to try HIIT for the first time, this research tells us that they can actually enjoy it and they may be more likely to participate in HIIT again if they try it with music.” So if you don’t love high-intensity workouts but are short on gym hours, some killer tunes might be the answer.

(Photo via Getty)
source:brit.co 
by:Julia Malacoff

Popular posts from this blog

The Tone It Up Girls Share 5 Exercises for a Tight, Toned, and Lifted Butt

Image
These top-tier booty moves are all you need to hit every angle of your backside. Work them into your regular routine and we guarantee you'll be pleased with the results. When it comes to butt exercises that tone, tighten, lift, sculpt, strengthen-okay, you get it-it doesn't get much better than the dynamic Tone It Up duo. The girls are big fans of butt exercises, and not only because strengthening your glutes can stabilize your body and prevent injury. Glutes make up the largest muscle group in the body, so when you work on them you'll burn major calories even long after the sweat is wiped off. Here, Katrina and Karena show you how to perform some of their all-time favorite butt exercises that will make you feel crazy-confident in everything from skinny jeans to bathing suits. The best part: These 5 moves are all you need to hit every angle of your butt. Box Jumps
Read more

Yoga Poses That Boost Fertility and Help Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy

Image
Got baby on the brain? These yoga poses will help you relax (which boosts fertility!) while prepping your body for the next few months ahead. Channel your inner goddess with her namesake pose. This one helps build strength and flexibility in the hips and pelvis, which are needed for childbirth. From a standing position, step feet wide and turn toes out. Sink hips and bend knees until they are directly over ankles. Lengthen tailbone down. Frame face with arms, keeping shoulders relaxed away from ears. "Cactus" the arms, bending elbows, making upper arms parallel to the ground and making a 90-degree angle with arms. Breathe here for 5 to 10 deep breaths. PHOTO: QINETIC Wide Knees Child's Pose Your inner child will feel nurtured in this gentle hip and back opener that allows your belly to relax the way it will need to for a pregnancy. Kneel with knees wide enough apart for your torso to fit between your thighs, and crawl hands forward. Keepin...
Keep reading