It’s one of the big fitness debates. Which type of cardio is best for fat loss: LISS or HIIT?
In the red corner….we have Low Intensity, Steady State cardio.
L I S S
LISS is what most people think of as traditional cardio. Walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, steady paced work on gym cardio machines.
Is it any good? LISS burns calories, but usually takes longer to do so. And your body will adapt unless you keep switching things up.
Pros and cons >>>
It’s safe and doable
Injury risk is low
It’s calm and nurturing for the mind
You can stick with it long term
It’s easy to recover from
Easy to measure
But…your body will get used to it, and it will take longer to burn calories (so it’s no good if you’re pushed for time).
In the blue corner….give it up for High Intensity Interval Training
H I I T
HIIT has been a buzzword for a while, and definitely has benefits – but it might not be the best choice for you.
HIIT can be done with bodyweight, with resistance, or on a piece of cardio equipment. Think sprints, Tabata, sled pushes, battle rope, slam ball, kettlebell complexes.
Is it any good? HIIT torches a ton of calories in a short time frame, but it brings a higher risk of injury, and can take a lot out of you.
Pros and cons
It’s short and intense
Very time efficient
Improves anaerobic fitness
Can be done with minimal equipment
But…it isn’t great if you are injury prone, or need a lot of recovery time. Most people can’t do HIIT every day. And you might not like that kind of cardio.
The bottom line: to get lean, you need to burn calories. HIIT and LISS will both do that. Choose cardio that fits your schedule, preference, and ability.
Which do YOU prefer?
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