HIIT for Heart

This post was written by Celia Dubauskas. Celia is an undergraduate student at Arizona State University, studying Nutrition Communication. This spring, she has been an intern for Arizona Beef Council, creating written and social content for our platforms. Celia is an experienced fitness professional and is certified as a personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Her passion for fitness has fueled her interest in nutrition and learning more about health and diet culture.

Did you know the American Heart Association certifies eight cuts of beef as part of a heart-healthy diet? Give Celia’s HIIT for Heart workout a try and then refuel with some delicious and nutritious beef to get that strong, healthy heart you’ve always wanted (and need!).

There is no doubt that exercise is good for both our physical health and mental well-being. Consistent exercise routines create habit and intention, increasing our cardiovascular health and ensuring proper dopamine levels. We set goals, and when we achieve them, we grow in confidence and strength. Exercise makes us happy!

So why don’t we do more?

One of the biggest challenges we face today is time. Never have Americans been so busy. We all get 24 hours in a day, but how we choose to spend that time varies person to person. To many, it seems impossible to reach their fitness goals because there is no time to get to the gym or squeeze in a workout. Some do not have the financial means to have a gym membership or invest in equipment.

What if all you needed was to move your body for 20 minutes? Can you make the time? Sure you can!

Surely, it cannot be that easy. But yes, it can! Interval training is the latest and greatest fitness trend. By rapidly increasing your heart rate with a quick rest in between each exercise, you can burn more calories than a traditional weight and cardio session combined. HIIT training has been proven to blast fat and improve heart health.

All you need is 20 minutes.

Here is a quick 20 minute HIIT workout you can do in the comfort of your own home or outside in the sun. These five exercises will be performed for 30 seconds followed by a 30 second rest. Repeat 4 times and there is your 20-minute fat-blasting workout.