All this talk about high intensity interval training (HIIT) might have you wondering “Where is the evidence?” I completely understand, being a researcher and fact-nut myself. You don’t just have to come here to hear about how effective this approach to fitness is. Not only can you experience it yourself with Insanity Workout, you can read about it in a high intensity interval training study. Yes, they are out there and some of them have shown dramatic results when test subjects used the HIIT approach to fitness.
An excellent summary can be found here from one high intensity interval training study that was conducted in 1994. According to the research, this particular study ran for 20 weeks and involved 17 test subjects. Some were subject to typical endurance training while others used high intensity interval training. The interesting part is that the group using HIIT lost over 3 times as much fat during the study period. This despite burning through fewer calories.
Another high intensity interval training study, one of many discussed here, states that high intensity interval training poses far less of a risk of muscle loss. This means when you are burning through a HIIT workout, you are less likely to be burning through your muscle mass. They discuss a great example, comparing the legs of a marathoner (endurance athlete) to the legs of a sprinter (HIIT athlete). The sprinter’s legs are much more muscular and defined despite both people being considered very fit.
There’s nothing wrong with seeking out the evidence for what we talk about here at Extreme Body Workout, we encourage it. The programs offered here, like P90X, Slim In 6, and HIIT are based in sound exercise physiology. They work and thousands of people are evidence to this. Simply evaluating impartial studies found from reputable sites online will back up the development of these programs and show that they are indeed highly effective.
