Hight-intensity interval training or HIIT is prevalent these days,
and it is helping tons of everyday athletes improve their cardio, burn calories
and even build strength. HIIT can be performed in a variety of ways, whether on
a bike or out on the court in a pair of basketball
shoes.
However, as with any exercise routine, there are a few common mistakes that
could hold your progress back. Are you making any of these four common HIIT
mistakes?
Skipping
the Warmup
When you show up to a workout in your track pants, it’s tempting to dive right into the first interval. Maybe the
first exercise is a bit slower, so skipping your warmup might not seem like a
big deal right away. However, warming up is critical before a hard HIIT
workout. A proper warmup should help prep your body for a hard workout, help
you move freely and potentially improve your performance. No matter how excited
you are to get started, never skip the warmup. Otherwise, you could be feeling
it later.
Making
the Workout Too Long
HIIT workouts are meant to be intense and relatively short—anywhere from a few
minutes to 20 minutes. If you’re planning on trying a 60-minute HIIT workout,
you could be in for a workout that’s way too intense, leaving you feeling like
you were hit by a train. More realistically, you can probably expect a workout
where you spent too much time trying to conserve your energy just to be able to
finish. HIIT is more like a sprint than a marathon, so focus on shorter
sessions where you can put the pedal to the metal from start to finish.
Not
Pushing Yourself Hard Enough
HIIT workouts are all about giving it your all, and if your workout is too
long, you might hold yourself back to conserve energy. That said, even if the
workout length isn’t a problem, you might still place limits on yourself, even
if you don’t realize them. Many HIIT workouts are structured around
percentages, meaning you give a certain amount of effort in the first interval
and level up in subsequent intervals. Try your best to stick to this script and
push yourself even when it starts getting hard.
Using
Bad Form
Just because you’re moving quickly doesn’t mean you want your form to take a
backseat. Proper form is crucial for any exercise. Good form will ensure you’re
efficient with your movement while also keeping your body properly aligned to
reduce your risk of injury. While it can be easy to let your running form slip
up during an all-out sprint, try your best to keep your form as close to
perfect as possible. During those warmup intervals, focus most of your
attention on establishing the best form possible so you can strive to replicate
it throughout the workout as you start to crank up the intensity.
About
Reebok
After decades
as a leader in the footwear and activewear industries, Reebok continues to be
an innovator of what it means to level up your performance no matter what you
love to do. Their diverse collection can help you take on a training session in
high-quality basketball shoes and track pants. Or you might want a pair of
their womens and mens walking
shoes or pride shoes to support you through every step of the day.
Stylish accessories like their backpacks and hats are the perfect upgrade to
your athleisure and streetwear to make sure you stay ready for anything. Their
iconic designs always keep you on-trend without ever sacrificing performance,
durability or comfort. With help from Reebok, you can take your fitness goals
to new heights and keep doing what you do best.
