HIIT Training – Happiness Experiment 21 Conclusions

I started this week’s experiment in High Intensity Interval Training to see if 10 minutes of exercise done in the right way could replace a much longer period.

Here’s the explanation for my HIIT Training Experiment.

This week in HIIT Training

If you’re just joining me now, you can go back to catch up on what you’ve missed:

HIIT Training Experiment – Day 1

HIIT Training Experiment – Day 2

HIIT Training Experiment – Day 3

HIIT Training Experiment – Day 4

HIIT Training Experiment – Day 5

HIIT Training Experiment – Day 6

HIIT Training – Day 7

After 6 days of training, it seems that the interval training is more effective when it works with specific muscle building exercises rather than cardio.

So, today I did free weight training to finish off my week of high intensity interval training.

Conclusions

I started this experiment at 238 pounds, and while my belt size hasn’t changed much, I finished it at 235.8 pounds. 2.2 pounds dropped for a week where I only had 70 minutes of exercise (and some surplus Easter chocolate) is pretty spectacular.

I learned a few important things over this experiment. I didn’t think that 10 minutes a day would have such a substantial impact, but my muscles felt like I’d exercised hours longer.

Technique was an issue. When you’re working at high intensity, it’s easy to get sloppy on your form, and that makes your 10 minute workouts hurt even MORE!

So, 1 week of interval training led me to feel like I had been badly beaten, and also led me to drop over 2 pounds. Not a fun trade off, but one that’s pretty acceptable for quick results in a week.

Over the course of this week, I also discovered tabatas training, which is essentially a more intensive form of interval training. Rather than 30 second intervals like I was using this week, in Tabatas training it appears that you work for 20 seconds and rest for 10 seconds. I think that Tabatas training will show up in a future experiment.

For now though, the conclusions from this experiment are clear. While 10 minutes a day might not provide the recommended cardio work for optimum heart health, it is enough exercise to get a major impact on your muscles and impact your weight. As always, if you do undertake exercises like this, be sure to check with your doctor, as high intensity exercise should be undertaken with utmost care.