Many of us have heard about HIIT, and how it can be a very time-efficient form of exercise. This can be tempting, especially if you are short on time. But can a 10 minute workout really be effective?
It should be, if done properly. It all depends on the effort you give during your work periods.
Keep in mind the original Tabata protocol involves 20-second work intervals with 10-second intervals 8 times for a total of only 4 minutes. The effort must be all-out for it to have the desired effect. Make sure it is preceded by a proper warmup and finished with a cooldown period.
Be aware that even the most trained of athletes will struggle to do more than 2 of these a week when combined with resistance training.
If you need a reliable timer with a Tabata workout set up for you, check out My Interval Timer.