By SAND Member: Sydney Hetman
Many college students are battling with a busy schedule and it often makes it difficult to find the time to workout. I would highly recommend someone with limited time to take a look at getting into doing a high intensity workout such as “Insanity”, that could be done in between classes or study time. High intensity interval training (or HIIT) is any workout that contains intense bursts of physical activity along with less intense activity or periods of rest. With HIIT it gives students the opportunity to spend less time working out, but provides the most beneficial workout for anyone!
To give some perspective, 15 minutes of interval training is equivalent to an hour-long jog. Interval training really kicks your body into gear: of course you will burn calories during the workout, but you will also continue to burn calories 24 hours after the workout is completed! You also do not have to worry about using any equipment because your body weight is your own resistance. A particular workout may include a 10-minute warm-up that includes running in place, jumping jacks, squats, high knees and butt-kicks. After the warm-up there is a period of stretching followed by high intensity circuit training with minimal amounts of rest time to keep your heart rate up. Some of the circuit trainings include plyometric, pure cardio, or cardio power and resistance workouts. . You can do the workouts anywhere, whether it is in your living room in your apartment, the rec center, or even one of the racquetball courts in Phillips Hall.
With summer just right around the corner this would be the ideal workout for any student trying to make up for those extra helpings of Easter candy! The training will stimulate your human growth hormone (HGH), which is mainly responsible for increasing your caloric burn and will ultimately increase your metabolism.
Since your body will be working so hard you will need the proper foods in your diet to replenish your body from the workout. To start off the day you can try a veggie omelet with egg whites, oatmeal with fresh berries, or an egg white breakfast wrap. For a snack try fruit and cottage cheese or a slice of peanut butter on whole-grain toast. In between classes for lunch you could pack a chicken ranch wrap or something simple, like a grilled chicken salad. Lastly, for dinner you could make whole-wheat pasta with vegetables and feta or even rotisserie chicken and a salad.
Even if you have a busy schedule, try to incorporate high intensity interval training into your workouts because you will definitely like the quick results! With a healthy routine and nutritious diet, you’ll be sure to see a difference.
To give some perspective, 15 minutes of interval training is equivalent to an hour-long jog. Interval training really kicks your body into gear: of course you will burn calories during the workout, but you will also continue to burn calories 24 hours after the workout is completed! You also do not have to worry about using any equipment because your body weight is your own resistance. A particular workout may include a 10-minute warm-up that includes running in place, jumping jacks, squats, high knees and butt-kicks. After the warm-up there is a period of stretching followed by high intensity circuit training with minimal amounts of rest time to keep your heart rate up. Some of the circuit trainings include plyometric, pure cardio, or cardio power and resistance workouts. . You can do the workouts anywhere, whether it is in your living room in your apartment, the rec center, or even one of the racquetball courts in Phillips Hall.
With summer just right around the corner this would be the ideal workout for any student trying to make up for those extra helpings of Easter candy! The training will stimulate your human growth hormone (HGH), which is mainly responsible for increasing your caloric burn and will ultimately increase your metabolism.
Since your body will be working so hard you will need the proper foods in your diet to replenish your body from the workout. To start off the day you can try a veggie omelet with egg whites, oatmeal with fresh berries, or an egg white breakfast wrap. For a snack try fruit and cottage cheese or a slice of peanut butter on whole-grain toast. In between classes for lunch you could pack a chicken ranch wrap or something simple, like a grilled chicken salad. Lastly, for dinner you could make whole-wheat pasta with vegetables and feta or even rotisserie chicken and a salad.
Even if you have a busy schedule, try to incorporate high intensity interval training into your workouts because you will definitely like the quick results! With a healthy routine and nutritious diet, you’ll be sure to see a difference.