We’ve all heard that high intensity interval training (HIIT) is an effective and fast way to fit in a workout and see positive results. But sometimes, even a 30-minute HIIT session can be too much to fit into our busy schedules. Thankfully, a new study has indicated that as little as one minute of HIIT exercise can help improve your fitness. That’s right, only 60 seconds of work- a minute exercise!
The study conducted by researchers at McMaster University in Ontario followed 14 sedentary and overweight participants as they did a short interval training program on a stationary bike. The program consisted of a two-minute warmup followed by three 20-second high-intensity bursts of exercise, in which they pedaled as fast and hard as they could. After each 20-second burst, participants pedaled slow and easy for two minutes. A three-minute cool down period was added at the end, for a total of 10 minutes on the bike.
After six weeks, researchers found that the participants showed improved endurance capacity, healthier blood pressure and improved blood sugar levels. So if you’re short on time, all you need is 10 minutes during the day and one full minute of hard work! You can even apply this exercise principle to anything, not just a bike. Run the stairs, run in place, or run in your neighborhood. All it takes is three 20-second bursts!
Information gathered from New York Times.
