No matter what your fitness goals are, you’re probably involving some kind of exercise into your weekly routine. Exercise can help you to tone up your body and lose weight or build muscle, while improving your general health and making you feel good. You may be wondering what the best type of exercise is, so let’s look at the benefit of steady state and HIIT cardio.
What is steady state cardio?
This is a type of exercise which involves keeping your heart rate at a fairly constant rate throughout. One of the main benefits of this form of exercise is that it helps your body to build more stamina and to become stronger. Steady state cardio is perhaps the traditional way of exercising – going out for a run at a constant speed or swimming 40 lengths at a constant pace.
What is HIIT?
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a type of exercise whereby your heart rate is deliberately varied throughout the workout session. Over the years, studies have found that this is a very effective form of exercising and can have significant advantages for those trying to lose weight. More calories are burned by constantly varying your heart rate rather than keeping it consistent. You can do HIIT exercise with both strength training and cardio. HIIT cardio, for example, could mean that you run as fast as you can for 45 seconds and then jog slowly for 30 seconds, and then repeat.
Which is the best type of exercise for you?
Many people will argue that HIIT is the best type of exercise, and this may be true. However, there is nothing to suggest that you shouldn’t do more than one type of exercise within your regular workout routine. You should seek to include as many different types of exercise as you can, including strength and resistance training, steady state cardio, HIIT cardio and other forms of HIIT exercise.
If you are doing more than one type of exercise, it will always be difficult to discover which is the most effective one for you. You can experiment to try and find a good balance for your body, either by cutting down on one type of exercise in a given week or by omitting a particular workout entirely and seeing the impact it has on you and your body.
In conclusion, steady state cardio and HIIT are both effective ways to reach your fitness goals. Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your individual goals and preferences. If you are looking for a low-impact way to improve your cardiovascular health, steady state cardio may be the best option. On the other hand, if you want to maximize calorie burn and increase your strength and power, HIIT may be the way to go. Whichever type of cardio you choose to do, it is important to remember to practice proper form and technique to ensure you get the most out of your workout.
