HIIT as key to weight loss

Hey I'm new here, just discovered this site/forum from searching on the web. I used to participate on a powerlifting forum for three years, then I decided to move away from just dedicating myself to strength gains, and now I'm fully focused on weight loss and conditioning. I usually jog a couple times a week at the beach (I love being by the water it's peaceful.) But what I usually focus my time on now is HIIT. This has been the key to my weight loss, I usually follow this routine.

I find it to be the most effective and rewarding way to gain endurance, stamina, and just a good boost to my morale. I thought I would join here, the community seems really awesome. Lots of helpful people : ) I want to learn some new things for my diet and training. Hope I can also be a good helper.

I tried something similar to this routine today, because I had limited time to hit the gym this morning before work. I'm so out of shape right now that my "high intensity" portion was about a 6.5mph jog and the "rest" portion was a 4mph brisk walk. 4 minutes each to warm up and cool down, and four cycles of 1:30, for a total of 14 minutes. When I was done, I was just as exhausted as after 45 minutes of "regular" cardio. Now three hours later, I can tell my metabolism is up... it feels like I've had three cups of coffee! After regular cardio, I'm usually worn down for hours.

I was wondering, if this will work with the elliptical machine?? I want to try this at the gym tommorow morning!! Thanks :)

It will work with the elliptical as well. I've done it running, and on the stationary bike so far. I'm sure the elliptical would be just as good. 

I've been doing HIIT at the gym for about the past two months and I've found it works EXTREMELY well.  I've lost a lot of weight since I've started, and my stamina has definitely improved.  Plus I love that you can do an entire cardio session in 20 minutes, which would normally take 30-40.

I'm not very fit but I find high intensity workouts to be amazing. They have really helped me to get as far as I have come - and it's helping me to get even further.

That link was very informative - I didn't know that HIIT actually helped you to burn calories throughout the whole day! That gives me so much more motivation to work myself to the limits! Thank you!

Thanks for posting this link-I appreciate it.  This was very interesting and I think I may have to give it a try.  I remember reading something about this in a running magazine awhile back and just kind of filed it away for "someday".  Now that "someday" is here, I may give this a try.  Thanks again!

It does work for elliptical.   I do it on my elliptical often.  In fact I have a hard time running due to shinsplints so the elliptical is the ideal way for me to do HIIT.  

dbackerfan - do you increase the intensity of the elliptical, or speed up for the 'sprint' segment?

I tried this tonight on my treadmill and I can already feel it in my legs! On an aside-could also tell that my 4 weeks so far of exercising has really increased my endurance because I had to crank it up to 8 mph on a 3% incline before I really felt like I was running "as fast as I could".  Whereas just four weeks ago, 6 mph probably would've been my max speed!   But I'm not complaining because I can see that this will be very beneficial!  Thanks again for posting the link!

Mmmm HIIT.

Something else I found interesting:
http://www.davedraper.com/hiit-cardio-trainin g.html

wow, this seems so intense,

im very excited to try out this HIIT business.

Sweet_tart - for the HIIT on elliptical (mine is very basic only 8 resistances)  so I basically put it on the 2nd or 3rd level and sprint really fast and hard being sure to use the arms too.

I've been doing a lot of research, and in addition to the *AWESOME* help i get on here from all of you, i've started the HIIT. after running for 3 months straight every day, the HIIT felt AWESOME, it was a new twist, different, and it DOES work with the elliptical (i have to use it since my knees are really bad). I just started, so i hope that i get the results everyone else is getting! THANKS AGAIN and good luck!   BRIAN

How often should you do this? Or, how often is it ok to do the HIIT training for, say, 15 minutes? I work out 5 days a week, (and enjoy it). i wanted to to HIIT for 15min/ day for 3 days, should i do 5? I heard that it may be harmful to do it 5 days a week. Thanks

My advice is listen to your body.  If you have already been running 5 times a week, it could be fine.  However, if you notice you are more tired or achy cut it back to 3 times a week instead. 

I am going to try this...I have to change SOMETHING...

http://training.fitness.com/high-intensity-in terval-training-hiit/
Above is a good thread Specifically Discussing About HIIT. Make sure to check out the Sticky about HIIT Exlpained.

HIIT when done right is quite strenuous. It is also an anaerobic activity like resistance training. Best is you do one or the other on a given day. You also should give your body a rest after HIIT, especially in the beginning. Your body won't know what hit it until the second day. Trust me LOL.

"Your body won't know what hit it until the second day."

Don't you mean Your body won't know what HIIT it until the second day!!

YOU ARENT LYING! I did it Monday and Tuesday, today? NO GYM, HAHAHA.. I feel great though! Less time, feel like i actually DID something at the gym finally!