It’s the fast, efficient workout that’s a brilliant way to get fit if time is tight. Lots of people will have tried high-intensity interval training (HIIT) – a workout made up of short, intense bursts of movement like sprints, burpees and ski jumps, followed by a rest.
HIIT workouts have many benefits. They burn calories fast, are great for cardiovascular health and offer up a bit of metabolic magic in midlife, as they help lower blood sugar levels.
But as we age, we can be left with joint aches and pains that are exacerbated by the high-impact exercises that make up a HIIT workout. That’s why I’ve been practising a slightly tweaked version, high-intensity low-impact training (HILIT) for years and do free weekly sessions with my mother-in-law, Nisha Mehta, age 76.
HILIT is accessible to everyone and can be tailored to you. If you’re fit and strong, do them faster and add in weights. If you’re less confident, go slower. Neither will pound your joints.
Also, it’s fast. I recommend sprinkling 60-second HILIT exercises throughout your day, such as before each meal, between meetings, while waiting for your dinner to cook or even during a walk.
Aim to do each exercise for a minute, but take a break if you need to, then restart once you’ve got your breath back.