Are High Intensity Interval Training Workouts Designed For Fat Loss Or For Lean Muscle Growth?

By Russ Hollywood


With high intensity interval training becoming one of the hot trends of the last few years in the fitness industry there is one burning question which most gym enthusiasts want to ask - can you build muscle and maintain it with HIIT?

The old approach, of course, is to do a resistance session and then jump on a bike for some light cardiovascular work to get yourself into the so-called 'fat burning zone'. []

However, this is now considered as yesterday's advice. Modern science has seen high intensity interval training become one of the most sought after methods when it comes to fat loss, and more recent studies have also shown it to be an excellent method for those looking to increase lean muscle mass, too.

That's right, performing a high intensity cardio workout is actually superior not only for burning fat but also for building lean tissue! While this is probably music to the ears of all those gym enthusiasts who find cardiovascular activity to be somewhat dull, it does come with a few warnings.

The next discovery may well shock you to your core if you are a long-term gym user. Cardiovascular activity should be performed before a resistance training, as opposed to afterwards. Not only will this increase your fat loss results, but it will also improve muscle retention as well. Let the magnitude of that fact sink in for a moment, because over 90% of gym members insist upon doing their cardio work after they're finished on the weights.

The fascinating study which discovered this was completed by Dr. Peter Lemon back in 2001 thanks to a fascinating Canadian project. This study was then grossly under-reported in fitness circles, causing it to go unnoticed by the general public. In theory, it should alter the way almost everybody trains in the gym.

Of course, it is also important to discuss the increased difficulty which will be served up by a HIIT workout in comparison to regular, steady state endurance exercise. You won't be able to do this every day of the week, particularly if you are also doing resistance training. That's actually a good though, though, as it will allow your body to recuperate fully.

Furthermore, research shows that high intensity interval training burns of 6 times as much fat as regular cardiovascular activity, making it a sensible choice if you are trying to figure out how to build muscle while maximizing your fat loss in the process.




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