HIIT - High Intensity Interval Training (2015)

PART 1
GETTING STARTED & UNDERSTANDING HIIT

5 YOUR HIIT KIT LIST

So the great thing with this HIIT book of mine is that most of the workouts don’t require any equipment, so all you need to find is time, and that again is less than 15 minutes!

But there are a few things worth investing in! After all, this book is not a fad. It is about a permanent, healthy, fit lifestyle for you to continue. In order of importance, I have listed some good investments for your health and ongoing fitness journey.

SHOES/TRAINERS/SNEAKERS

Whatever your name for these, they are a must, and as most (but not all) of my HIIT workouts have some high-impact moves, it is a good idea to make sure you have a pair of trainers that have a good cushioning sole. This helps reduce any impact and is a good way to help look after your joints. Have a look at the soles of your trainers and make sure they are not to worn out and have plenty of cushioning. Make them a top priority in your closet.

ONE FOR THE GIRLS

Okay, this is a must if we women want to protect our busts! So don’t think that a nice, normal bra will do the trick of holding you in place when you are doing the star jumps because it won’t. This is why it is important to invest in a good quality sports bra that is the perfect fit and made with quality martial that will keep its strength from wash to wash!

Stopwatch/Timer

You may find that your mobile phone has a got a good stopwatch, or you can even find loads of free apps to download with this capability. Stopwatches, however, are so cheap that for very little money this could be a good investment. Then it is a tangible part of your HIIT gym, and, after all, it is all about time.

OTHER ITEMS FOR YOUR KIT

For the floor exercises, I recommend a mat, but if you don’t have one, a good alternative is to simply use a bath towel.

If you don‘t have any free weights, you can also use alternatives, such as different sized water bottles. Simply fill the water bottles with sand or even rice (whole grain, of course!).

For a skipping rope, you could again invest in one as they are cheap or make your own using some sturdy rope.

Other useful tips:

Find a space in the house and allocate that as your gym space. If you can, keep the items in your kit list in this location, ready for when you are inspired to do one of my HIIT workouts.

And, finally, clothing. The most important workout gear from the kit list provided here that made it into the top three of my priority list are the trainers and the sports bra. As for the rest of your workout gear, the most important thing is that you feel comfortable in it, and if you are training outdoors, then go bright so you are always very visible.