HIIT cardio question

[bigsahm21]

Here's my HIIT routine:

5 min warmup
45 sec. high intensity intervals followed by 1:30 moderate intensity intervals
(8 of each)


After this point, though, I like to do about 10-15 min of just moderate intensity cardio...so the whole thing usually takes about 35-40 mins.

Is this bad? Does doing the extra stuff cancel out any of the purpose of the HIIT cardio instead of just regular cardio?

 

[Plateau_Max]

Are you saving energy for the post interval cardio? It's not really going to benefit you that much more, so I would recommend putting everything you've got into your intervals, that's the whole point anyway.

What kind of exercises are you doing?

 

[P-funk]

I don't think it is bad at all.

 

[bigsahm21]

I do it on an eliptocal (sp?)

But no, I don't save a thing. During the high speed intervals, I usually get my RPM up to about 280 or so, and my HR gets pretty high, I'd say usually around 180.

 

[slip]

can you get onto a treadmill and try it?

 

[P-funk]

I don't like HIIT on the treadmill (in fact the less running you can do on the treadmill the better). Usually, HIIT intervals work well on a bike, a rower or a versa climber (those are my three favorites).

 

[bigsahm21]

plus, on the treadmill it's less convenient too. you have to increase and decrease the speed dramatically in HIIT cardio, and that's hard to do on a treadmill...

 

[slip]

I've never had a problem using the treadmill, it's really not that big of a drama ramping the speed up and down.

Pfunk - what is behind your distaste for the treadmill?

 

[P-funk]

I've never had a problem using the treadmill, it's really not that big of a drama ramping the speed up and down.

Pfunk - what is behind your distaste for the treadmill?

a) the treadmill is shit for people to run on. the ground moves and the person running stays in place. it doesn't effectively use the glutes. it is garbage.

b) for HIIT you either have to hit the buttons up and down and wait forever for it to change speeds or jump on and jump off which is just dangerous IMO and not worth the risk at all.

 

[CowPimp]

a) the treadmill is shit for people to run on. the ground moves and the person running stays in place. it doesn't effectively use the glutes. it is garbage.

b) for HIIT you either have to hit the buttons up and down and wait forever for it to change speeds or jump on and jump off which is just dangerous IMO and not worth the risk at all.

Though I use it occasionally, I tend to agree. I have always hated running on treadmills. I still do it once in a while, but I don't make a habit out of it.

 

[dontsurfonmytur]

what i like to do is sprint up hill , than walk down hill
i dont all out spring 100%, mayb elike 90 or 95%
and i do it on a fairly steep hill.
i go until i notice a big change in my sprinting up hill

 

[KentDog]

I agree with the treadmill being a bad idea for HIIT. How in the world can you sprint on a treadmill?