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HIIT Fail? Anonymous
Hey /fit/ this is what i did today, my first attempt at HIIT.

I did some warming up, made lots of 30 second music files to put on my ipod - This is so i know when to jog and when to run at each 30 second interval.

I decided to do 4 jogs and 4 sprints, a nice healthy start.

Thing is, I can do the first 30 sec of jogging and sprinting, but afte that it was hell. I lost all my stamina, and could only muster the next sprint after 1:30 mins had passed. Also, rather than jogging between the intervals, I fell back down to a lowly walk.

Chalked it down to how unfit i am, but is this sorta crappy perfromance common for first time HIITers?
>> Anonymous
I've been doing HIIT for 2 weeks and yeah, it's real tiring (though i've been jogging for years for Army and such). I find it better to walk in-between my sprint intervals; you get your wind back faster and have more energy for the next burst. If you aren't used to the extreme cardio, your Quads and Hams should be aching the next day; if not you aren't running fast enough! I set a goal of sprinting longer every day to keep motivated and improve. Good luck buddy! Keep at it and it WILL work!
>> Anonymous
You're not strong enough (or have enough endurance) to maintain that level of speed. Lift some weights first and continue with steady state cardio for a few months, then go back to HIIT.
>> Anonymous
It's tough, gets easier. You're not supposed to feel like you can continue on while actually continuing on.

Hell though, if you think the sprinting is bad, do burpees at 20 seconds work/10 seconds rest 8 times. After your first time doing it, you'll barely be able to walk for 2-3 days.
>> Anonymous
Thanks guys, don't consider myself unhealthy per se, but not especially fit either, feel like i improved recently due to strenuous gardening (chopping and uprooting trees for hours a time) and doing HIIT today made me feel like I can't handle it. But if finding it hard is the point then, i'll keep at it.

BTW one more thing, how often should I do this a week? or should I just focus on intervals between weights& squatz & crunches one day and HIIT the next?
>> Anonymous
>>258921
Another thing, should I be doing other exercises on the days I do HIIT or should I just do HIIT and let my body recover for the rest of the day?
>> sasuke
It's supposed to be difficult. You are too used to the warm comfort of your mother's nipple.
>> Anonymous
>>258940
Thats good advice coming from someone who wants to be sasuke.
>> Anonymous
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While walking between sprints, put your hands as shown in my helpful MS Paint diagram, it'll help you breathe and get ready for the next one.
>> Anonymous
HIIT n00b here. Should I do it on an empty stomach? Not like, starving, but at least 4 hours after my last meal?