HIIT and Steady-state Are Different

When it comes to exercise, High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has received a lot of attention for being a time-efficient way for working out (not only is it time efficient, it could slow down how you age – read about that HERE). However, it’s important to remember that Steady State Training (SST) is still an extremely effective way to improve aerobic efficiency which brings us to the debate: HIIT or steady-state, which type of cardio is best for you?

Driving is a good example

I really dislike sitting in traffic; my ex-wife doesn’t mind a little traffic as long as she can listen to the radio: which is the best method for getting from one place to another?

Avoiding traffic by adding miles to a trip by driving the back streets (my way), or taking the shortest, most direct route even if it means sitting on a crowded freeway so congested that you only move a few miles an hour (hers)?

Which burns more gas?

Which approach burns more gas and places more wear and tear on your car: the frequent starting and stopping of city driving or highway driving at a constant rate of speed?

 

Your heart is the engine of your body

A car burns gas, combined with oxygen, to create the energy to move; the human body burns adenosine triphosphate (ATP – converted from carbs or fats) with or without oxygen to produce the energy to fuel the muscle contractions necessary for movement. HIIT, which is similar to city driving, can be extremely effective for burning calories and improving aerobic capacity but at the expense of placing high levels of physical stress on the body.

On the other hand SST focuses on maintaining a consistent, low-to-moderate intensity work-rate for an extended period of time which is comparable to driving on a highway. Like HIIT, SST can be effective for aerobic conditioning and burning calories but differs in that it can require an extensive amount of time to do the volume of work necessary to achieve the desired results.

HIIT or Steady-state: Which is better?

Is one form of conditioning better than the other?

Like almost all answers to fitness questions the first two words are: “that depends.” In the above car analogy both options can help you get to your destination, the one you choose depends on your personal preferences of whether you like sitting in slow moving traffic or being in constant motion.

The features, advantages and disadvantages for both SST and HIIT are identified below. There is a plethora (score one for SAT prep) of research validating each mode as an effective form of exercise, just like using WAZE to navigate the backroads versus sitting patiently on a main thoroughfare, only you can determine which one is best suited to help you reach your fitness goals in the shortest period of time.

 

FEATURES:

SST:

Maintain a consistent speed, level of intensity and work rate during an exercise session.

The training intensity can be measured by maintaining a consistent work rate at a specific percentage of maximum heart rate (MHR), heart rate reserve (HRR) or aerobic capacity (VO2 max). Another option is using the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) which allows you to use a 1-10 scale to judge the level of difficulty (1 being easier and 10 the hardest).

HIIT:

Alternate between periods of high intensity exercise and lower intensity recovery, either active or passive.

Both the higher intensity work intervals and lower intensity recovery periods can be measure as a percentage of MHR, HRR, VO2 Max or an individual’s RPE.

 

ADVANTAGES:

SST

Exercising below the ventilatory threshold for an extended period of time is less physical stress on the cardiorespiratory system and can be an effective method for high volume

training to prepare for an endurance event.

An established and proven method for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and enhancing aerobic capacity.

Increase mitochondrial density in type I (slow twitch) muscle fibers which can improve aerobic metabolism.

Increase cardiac efficiency; specifically elevating stroke volume and cardiac output at a lower heart rate.

Enhance ability to use fat as an efficient fuel source which reserves muscle glycogen to be used for higher intensity exercise.

Steady state training to improve aerobic efficiency generates less metabolic waste and cellular damage than HIIT workouts.

HIIT

HIIT can be effective for improving aerobic capacity and/or calorie burning in shorter period of training time when compared to high volume, steady state training.

The higher intensity work intervals of HIIT can be based on an individual’s RPE allowing that individual to start exercising at a relatively low intensity (as measured objectively) and progress from that initial starting point.

Interval training may be an effective strategy for individuals who become easily distracted or ‘bored’ during longer exercise sessions.

Can improve efficiency of type II muscle fibers to produce energy via anaerobic glycolysis resulting in greater metabolic efficiency.

Exercising above the lactate threshold can help stimulate production of muscle-building, fat-burning hormones such as testosterone, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor.

Increase the effect of EPOC (excess post exercise oxygen consumption) helping to burn calories after the exercise session is completed.

 

Exercise Program Design for the Fountain of Youth online course; $49 

This online course will teach you how to design workout programs that could slow down the aging process using HIIT, steady-state, strength and power training exercises. The course reviews the science of how exercise mitigates many of the effects of the biological aging process. ANYONE can take it, but fitness professionals, personal trainers and group fitness instructors can earn continuing education credits, CECs: 0.3 ACE, 0.4 NASM and 4 AFAA

 

 

DISADVANTAGES:

SST

If the goal is weight loss steady state training may require extended periods of training time to achieve the desired level of caloric expenditure.

Using steady state training to improve aerobic capacity may require lengthy exercise sessions which can be a challenge for a busy lifestyle.

Extended periods of exercise can increase the risk of repetitive stress injuries.

Certain individuals may find it difficult to maintain the focus necessary to train at a constant work-rate for an extended period of time.

HIIT

High intensity exercise increases mechanical damage on muscle tissue which could create soreness and perception of exercise as “painful” in de-conditioned individuals.

Anaerobic metabolism results in an accumulation of metabolic stress limiting a muscle’s ability to function.

The high mechanical stresses of HIIT can increase the risk of injury from a muscle strain.

The higher exercise intensities required to improve aerobic conditioning with HIIT may be uncomfortable or painful for certain individuals.

An extended period of HIIT could deplete glycogen stores resulting in gluconeogenesis – the metabolic process of converting protein to produce glycogen; this limits the amount of protein available to repair muscle tissue damaged by exercise.

 

Deciding what works best for you:

Here are five times when HIIT might be the most effective workout for your needs.

1. You have a busy schedule which limits your training time; HIIT workouts can be done in thirty minutes or less making them extremely effective for producing results in a limited amount of time.
2. You have been following the same cardio workout routine for a long time and have become stuck at a plateau, adding HIIT workouts could jumpstart your program so you continue experiencing results.
3. You want to train for a mud run or obstacle course race. These events feature physical challenges requiring anaerobic strength; HIIT can help you prepare to meet the demands of overcoming an obstacle while improving aerobic efficiency so you have the energy to finish the race.
4. You are exercising for weight loss. HIIT can help you burn more calories in a shorter period of time along with providing an EPOC effect to help you continue expending energy even after the workout is over.
5. Because you like it. The best exercise in the world is… the one you enjoy and will do on a regular basis. If HIIT works for you, go for it and have fun but make sure you allow time for appropriate recovery because that’s where the real results happen.

Here are five times when SST-Steady State Training might be the best workout for your needs.

1. You experience a period of high stress or find yourself wallowing in a grumpy mood, steady-state workouts place lower levels of physiological stress could help you to clear your mind and change your mood.
2. You want to enter a race like a 10K, half marathon or marathon. According to the principle of specificity the best way to train for an activity is to do the activity. If you want to complete a endurance race you will need to plan on making time for long distance, steady state training.
3. You are visiting a city you have never been to before or have recently moved. A long, steady state run, bike ride or walk can be a great way to get out and explore an area you have recently moved to or are visiting for the first time.
4. You are exercising for the health benefits. Regular, low-to-moderate intensity steady state exercise can provide a number of health benefits helping to reduce the risk of developing a chronic disease like onset diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
5. Because you like it. Some people simply enjoy going out for long runs or training for long distance endurance events, if this is you there is no reason to change your workout habits as long as they provide you with the benefits you are looking for, enjoy!

 

Only YOU Can Decide

So which form of exercise is best-suited to meet your needs? Only you can answer the question. Whichever you choose, using a heart rate monitor can help you get results by monitoring your intensity; as well as making sure you have a consistent post-training recovery strategy.

The most important thing for exercise to be effective is that you find a type of exercise that you enjoy, fits within your existing lifestyle and meets your fitness needs. But here’s the conundrum (ROCKING the SAT words today!) no matter whether you choose SST or HIIT if you really want to keep seeing results it’s important that you change your workout on a regular basis to keep your body from becoming complacent which could result in returning back to where you started: stuck on a plateau not achieving any results from your exercise program.

 

To learn more about the workout programs that can work for your goals, pick up a copy of:

Smarter Workouts: The Science of Exercise Made Simple published by Human Kinetics