If you are having a hard time getting your met-con times faster, your problem might just be that you do not have the endurance that you need in those quick workouts. One of the best ways to increase your times is to increase your workout capacity. This is done through HIIT training or high intensity interval training. HIIT is not for the faint at heart. It requires a lot of dedication and mental toughness to get through a training session. You are basically pushing yourself for a quick burst of time such as 30-60 seconds at a FULL OUT SPRINT, then taking 1-2 minutes of recovery at less than 50% of that speed. IF you are ready to take it to the next level here is how you start !
Keep it short ! With HIIT training it is best to keep your sessions short. Anything longer than 15 minutes means that you can risk injury. The best way to approach this is by doing short sets of HIIT training, around 3 to 4 minutes, and then take a break to cool down. Repeat this around three to five times, depending on your level of fitness. As you get increasingly fitter, you can add on repetitions and lengthen the time of the HIIT training.
Like any exercise, it is imperative to give the body time to recover from HIIT training. Trainers recommend that you only do HIIT training three times a week. Between those days you can rest, or focus on cross-training. Cross-training is a great way to improve fitness and reduce injury, so it is actually best to mix your workouts up.
Make your HIIT FUN ! Add in sled drags, pulls and tire flips ! Run on the track or in the sand. Keep your body guessing to mix it all up and really challenge you body!
HIIT and talking should be non existent. If you are doing HIIT properly, you should be pushing yourself at a HIGH capacity and then backing it down to almost recover but not fully there.
Fuel your training. Just like lifting, you need to eat in order to perform at an optimal level. Your body is using a lot of energy and fuel so be sure to replenish it after a hard session. Try eating carbs post training to repair your muscles and prepare you for the next session!
One of the most important parts of any exercise routine is to be consistent. Try to create a program that you know that you can keep with for the long run. As you develop working out as a habit then you can begin to add on more exercises.
With a combination of mindfulness and hard work with these tips you can integrate a HIIT training workout routine into your life in no time. Remember just to not get discouraged! If you keep at it long enough, you’ll be able to master HIIT training as your regular workout routine, and once you do that, you can take the same intensity into your everyday life.