Why Do We Do HIIT Workouts In CrossFit?
CrossFit WODs (workout of the day) are designed around HIIT (high intensity interval training) style workouts. This is the basic idea that being highly active for a short amount of time is significantly more beneficial for your body and training purposes than being moderately active for an extended period of time. At 8th Day Gym we don’t believe you need to be in the gym for hours on end. In fact, for the hour you will be in attendance for class, you are not be working for that that entire hour. Why do we do this?
HIIT Builds Endurance and Stamina
Oddly enough, even though your workout in the gym may be shorter than going for an hour long run, HIIT adapts your body and cellular structure within muscles which increases your endurance during your
exercise. By working hard for a period of time in combination with rest periods in between sets, your body will adapt to run efficiently with its energy and you will start to breathe more effectively as well. Another benefit includes the removal of toxic waste from tissue during the rest periods.
HIIT Burns Calories and Fat
For all of you who are hoping to lose more fat, the design of a HIIT workout burns calories and fat in just a limited amount of time. Studies have shown that 15 minutes of high intensity interval training burns more calories than jogging on a treadmill for an hour. Similarly, the American College of Sport Medicine has said that high intensity interval training helps you consume more oxygen than a workout without intervals. Because of this, the oxygen left over after being consumed helps to increase your metabolism rate and burns calories faster.
Because of the intensity put into a short amount of time during the workout, your body’s repair cycle starts working at a rapid rate for a longer period of time. Within the 24 hours after your HIIT workout, your body should still be burning calories and fat vs a single, lower paced workout where the metabolic rate is less and for less of an active duration.
HIIT Assists in Strength Training
In CrossFit, the idea is to be a functional athlete. This means being the best possible performer in both endurance, speed, and strength. The HIIT workout of a WOD does help in fat loss, but we don’t want to lose muscle at the same time. Cardio is often viewed as a weight loss regime which is why so many long distance runners are so thin. With HIIT workouts, you are also incorporating weight training as well in intervals. Sometimes it may be work with a barbell, other times it may just be using bodyweight. This method effectively helps those looking to shed pounds while still building and maintaining muscle as well.
