HIIT is designed for any level of fitness and results happen quickly! The buzz is that it maximizes the burn – averaging 400-1,000 calories for a one-hour workout session – and is the secret to faster fat loss, stimulating metabolism, and increasing energy and results. Think about, for example, the P90x and Insanity crazes.

“HIIT is one of the best ways to get the heart rate moving, as it alternates between short, intense anaerobic exercises, such as sprints, with less intense recovery periods,” said Joe Casalese, director of fitness at MVP Sports Clubs. “Serious athletes have enjoyed its advantages for years, realizing its significant cardio-efficiency and enhanced performance benefits and, yes, additional calories burned.”

EPOC is the resulting “after burn” effect that helps burn more calories long after participants have left the gym. Research suggests these high-intensity training sessions force the body to work harder to restock its oxygen stores, typically for a period of 16 to 24 hours post-workout. And, of course, for the majority of people looking to add a fitness routine into their schedule, burning calories, losing weight, and toning are at the top of the list.

Area classes, such as MVP Zone Training at RDV Sportsplex Athletic Club, take HIIT workouts to a new level by utilizing a heart rate strap and projecting progress on a class monitor. Participants can effectively control the intensity of their workouts to meet their personal physical needs, eliminating any guess work. Tailor-made to any fitness level, “In real time, participants clearly see if they can push themselves beyond what they thought they could, or if they need to pull back because they are working too hard,” Casalese said. “Getting the heart rate to train in the right zones is the key to efficient caloric burn. Too low of a heart rate means less calories burned; too high of a heart rate and one begins burning energy sources stored in muscle.”