Ask The Ageless Lifter: Is HIIT Too Intense?

Q: HIIT makes me feel like I'm going to croak. Is that a good thing or a sign to stop?

As high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has become more popular in recent years, it has also grown to be a source of endless confusion among lifters. Funny how those two go hand-in-hand. And just to preface my comments, I'll assume your interest in HIIT is largely for body-composition purposes, rather than for sport-specific endurance development. The protocols, and the responses they create, are usually different for the two goals.

So what is best for you, the person who wants to lift, live, and look your best?

The Cardio Spectrum

All forms of cardio fall along an intensity/duration spectrum. On one side you have low-intensity steady-state (LISS): Think walking, light cycling, and things that may warm you up, but don't bring buckets of sweat. On the other side we find HIIT: Bring the towels, and maybe the bucket. Somewhere in the middle would be moderate-intensity steady-state (e.g.,...

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