In the flawless and evolving world of fitness, choosing the right type of cardio has become a challenging task for individuals who just entered into a fitness journey. There are two choices of cardio and both have their unique benefits High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Low-Intensity Steady State (LISS), both are vigorously popular as cardiovascular exercise.
By understanding the pros and cons of each cardio exercise you will be able to make a choice which type of cardio suits you best according to your fitness goal and physical state HIIT or LISS.
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HIIT: A Burst of Intensity
(HIIT) High-intensity interval training is popular because it's good and powerful at burning calories and is time efficient. This cardiovascular exercise changes phase from short periods of high-intensity activity and then short bursts of rest or low-intensity intensity.
Starting with high intensity increases your heart rate and triggers the afterburn effect, enhancing (PEOC) post-exercise oxygen consumption. This works for burning calories even after the workout is completed.
Pros of HIIT:
Time Efficiency: Individuals with a busy working schedule can follow HIIT traditional cardio workout sessions for shorter duration and effective results.
Fat Burning: This intense cardio workout HIIT enhances the process of fat loss and protects your muscles.
Metabolic Boost: PEOC - Post-exercise oxygen consumption improves your metabolic rate faster, which helps in triggering calorie burning post-exercise.
Cons of HIIT:
High intensity: HIIT - this workout can be hard for beginners and can end up giving up. And people with certain health conditions need to be careful.
Risk of Injury: If HIIT cardio is not performed with proper care and caution it can injure you.
Time of recovery: Frequent breaks are important while following HIIT cardio workout cause it requires enough time for recovery.
LISS: The Steady Approach
Low-Intensity Steady State (LISS) takes a more moderate and comfortable approach toward cardiovascular exercise. These workouts are steady and take more time compared to HIIT exercise, about an hour.
This is comfortable for individuals at different fitness levels and Beginners can also adapt easily to LISS exercise.
Pros of LISS:
Sustainable: Beginners can start with it and sustain it for a long time, and it is suitable for people who have joint concerns.
Reduces Risk of Injury: It is safer for beginners, and for people who are suffering from joint issues, and the risk of injuries is very less. It has a low impact on nature.
Consistency: It can make you your regular routine as LISS cannot put excessive strain on the muscles of the body. It's easy going and also being consistent is necessary.
Cons of LISS:
Time Consumption: A LISS session takes more time compared to HIIT, and it needs to complete a LISS workout for better results. It's time-consuming.
Caloric Burn Plateau: Calorie burning of HIIT and LISS workouts varies, The LISS workout cannot burn as many calories as the HIIT workout.
Potential Boredom: For some individuals, it can feel repetitive in nature and less engaging as compared to HIIT. But if you are new, starting with it can be beneficial.
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In the bottom line:
Choosing the Right Cardio for You: The decision of choosing your cardio type completely depends on your goal of fitness, and physical condition after you can choose one from HIIT and LISS.
If you are looking for maximum calories burned, have limited time and a busy schedule, and need faster changes then HIIT is good to go. Vice-versa if you want to be sustained, have issues with your joints and other physical issues, and seeking a more relaxing approach then LISS could be a better fit as cardiovascular exercise.
However, you can consult a healthcare professional for detailed guidance according to your health condition and fitness goal. They can provide you personal guidance according to your body type and the medical condition you are going through.