High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a popular workout that originated in competitive endurance sports. HIIT couples bouts of all-out exertion with periods of rest for a fast and effective workout.
Functional training workouts generally emphasize building strength and flexibility in all planes of movement to prevent injury and build practical fitness that helps you perform activities in daily life, like carrying groceries or lifting children.
This article will cover the basics of HIIT vs functional training, and their benefits and compare them for muscle gain, fat loss, and cardiovascular health gains.
Understanding HIIT
HIIT started in competitive running and cycling as a way to help Olympic athletes train intervals at 100% of their heart rate and build serious cardiorespiratory capacity.
HIIT has exploded in popularity thanks in large part to the success of workouts like Crossfit, p90X, and Insanity and the growing body of evidence that demonstrates its effectiveness.
HIIT enables you to get a full-body workout in a short period of time, making it convenient and appealing to many people.
HIIT workouts alternate between near-maximum effort and a short rest period (typically between 15 seconds of rest to 2 minutes of work) for the duration of the training session.
This high demand on the body creates amazing physiological adaptations and serious health benefits. Because HIIT is so demanding on the body, it
