My experience with HIIT-dear god

O

OldThumper2010

New member
After much evaluation of my strength/cardio routines, and at the recommendation of forum users much more experienced than myself, I did my first HIIT workout this afternoon.

I think I lived to tell about it. I'm typing about it, so thats a good sign.

I used the stationary bike. I thought about used the treadmill, I even stood in front of it and looked at it for a while. Then the image of running my absolute hardest, missing the belt and shooting like a torpedo into the hot personal trainer in front of me ran through my head. Bike it was.

I warmed up for 4 minutes. Then I jacked up the resistence and went as hard and as fast as my stubby legs would propel me for 20 seconds. I rested for the next 1:40 seconds, then did it again, for a total of 8 times in 20 minutes. Then a 5 min cool down.

I didn't sweat, I MONSOONED.

Its is NORMAL that I was shaky and twitchy for about 4 hours afterwards. I went to the grocery store afterwards and used the blood pressure cuff, not because I needed to know my BP, but because I really needed to sit down! I was slightly nauseated..the whole shebang.

I ate an hour before I went and I drank plenty of water. Is this going to happen EVERY time with HIIT..not sure I can take it!
 
OldThumper2010 said:
After much evaluation of my strength/cardio routines, and at the recommendation of forum users much more experienced than myself, I did my first HIIT workout this afternoon.

I think I lived to tell about it. I'm typing about it, so thats a good sign.

I used the stationary bike. I thought about used the treadmill, I even stood in front of it and looked at it for a while. Then the image of running my absolute hardest, missing the belt and shooting like a torpedo into the hot personal trainer in front of me ran through my head. Bike it was.

I warmed up for 4 minutes. Then I jacked up the resistence and went as hard and as fast as my stubby legs would propel me for 20 seconds. I rested for the next 1:40 seconds, then did it again, for a total of 8 times in 20 minutes. Then a 5 min cool down.

I didn't sweat, I MONSOONED.

Its is NORMAL that I was shaky and twitchy for about 4 hours afterwards. I went to the grocery store afterwards and used the blood pressure cuff, not because I needed to know my BP, but because I really needed to sit down! I was slightly nauseated..the whole shebang.

I ate an hour before I went and I drank plenty of water. Is this going to happen EVERY time with HIIT..not sure I can take it!
Click to expand...

:D Good stuff.

... and Steve wonders why I question preaching HIIT to this crowd and wonders why I think people here go straight from "normal workouts" straight to HIIT. :D
 
corndogggy said:
:D Good stuff.

... and Steve wonders why I question preaching HIIT to this crowd and wonders why I think people here go straight from "normal workouts" straight to HIIT. :D
Click to expand...

Oh brother. I think I have enough experience to make recommendations, but hey, maybe I am wrong.

I know you are joking, but that is kind of a personal statement. I always say I don't like making blanket recommendations on here b/c everyone takes my word as THE WORD. That is why I recommend people come to be personally either through my journal, PM, or email so that we can customize something for personal needs and fitness levels.

But anywho, to the OP, what did you eat after the workout. If nothing, that explains why you were shakey.
 
OldThumper2010 said:
Is this going to happen EVERY time with HIIT..not sure I can take it!
Click to expand...

Once you're in better shape, the workout you mentioned would be surprisingly easy. No way would what you mentioned have that effect on me, much less people who are well beyond my capability. But... and here's where the opinions apparently vary... I think your results, based on the workout you mentioned, is way too drastic of a jump. I think there's a good middle ground that should be hit, leading up to a workout that is drastic enough to make you feel like hell for hours, and once you're to that point, the activities involved should be WELL beyond what was mentioned. But then again, crap, what do I know... just blast yourself into the ground! :D
 
corndogggy said:
Once you're in better shape, the workout you mentioned would be surprisingly easy. No way would what you mentioned have that effect on me, much less people who are well beyond my capability. But... and here's where the opinions apparently vary... I think your results, based on the workout you mentioned, is way too drastic of a jump. I think there's a good middle ground that should be hit, leading up to a workout that is drastic enough to make you feel like hell for hours, and once you're to that point, the activities involved should be WELL beyond what was mentioned. But then again, crap, what do I know... just blast yourself into the ground! :D
Click to expand...

You know very little about her previous conditioning or other variables that come into play that could lead to the feelings she had after the exercise bout. ;)
 
Steve said:
I know you are joking, but that is kind of a personal statement.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm kind of joking, just because I'm a joking kind of guy, but then again, I really do think this type of extreme shift happens more than you realize. My whole point about an incrementing middle ground on that other thread... yeah, this is exactly what I'm talking about.
 
corndogggy said:
Yeah I'm kind of joking, just because I'm a joking kind of guy, but then again, I really do think this type of extreme shift happens more than you realize. My whole point about an incrementing middle ground on that other thread... yeah, this is exactly what I'm talking about.
Click to expand...

Have you ever thought about being a fitness instructor or strength coach?

Now that was a joke. :D

I am all for you handing out recommendations, but you better start finding out all the details before you tell the OP that it was too early for her to start HIIT.

The stage is yours. I will sit back and learn. ;)
 
Oh, and for the record in the context of this discussion, I would never recommend HIIT to a newb just starting to increase fitness levels. I believe Corn knows this, but others who are reading may not.
 
Well hello! Thanks for the responses gentlemen. In Steve's defense, my post was largely directed at him, for his opinion. I wanted to hear from everyone and anyone, but since he does a lot of HIIT, that is where it was aimed. But, please, I'd like to hear from ANYONE with experience at this.

And no, I'm not an exercise newbie. I've been consistently at the gym (with one 3 month lapse) for more than a year. I run, occasionally spin, and take various classes. I may not be a size 2, but I'm in "shape."

I'm also not one who believes "working out" for the purposes of weight loss is getting on the treadmill, setting it at 2.8 miles and hour and sauntering for 20 minutes. If that is where you have to start, then that is WONDERFUL, but if you're not challenging yourself (sweating, heavy breathing, heart rate way up-I am still talking about exercising aren't I), then don't bother.

My issue is this: How hard is too hard? Everything I read said that HIIT will continue to burn calories for hours afterwards. Is that what I was feeling? Or did I just overdo it on my first time out? Please bear in mind that I did a full hour of lower body strenth training before hand.

I'm no wilting violet over here. Just wondering if I pushed it TOO hard, or if that is to be expected occasionallly with HIIT.

(Field hocking in college used to make me puke all the time! Not so attractive in a girl, I'm told).
 
Naw dude, I like you, I'm just giving you hell, it's just the whiskey talking. :D If I were a strength coach I'd be fired by now for handing out a protein and whiskey recovery drink, so don't listen to me. :D Speaking of which, hey that sounds pretty good, I think I've got some soy powder laying around... :rolleyes:

Seriously though... I'm really not trying to be insulting whatsoever. Of course I don't know the details. This just happened to be a good example of exactly what I was talking about. Some people are taking these huge leaps and bumping up to HIIT workouts out of the clear blue then are rather shocked at what happens next. I only hope that none of the near future episodes involve the emergency room or turning anyone off from working out completely.

Finding out the details is great, but when multiple people are questioning the seemingly insane aftermath right after they just took a big leap and bumped up their workout immensely... hell, I'd bet a dollar that it's probably due to that big-ass leap being a little too big.
 
Steve said:
Oh, and for the record in the context of this discussion, I would never recommend HIIT to a newb just starting to increase fitness levels. I believe Corn knows this, but others who are reading may not.
Click to expand...

I do know that. I'm just afraid that the second part of that statement does happen.
 
A. Based on Corn's above post, don't listen to him.

B. This is a perfect example of someone taking my advice indirectly.

C. I should write a rules post in my journal about how to implement some of my general advices in the most sane way possible.

D. Any time you start a new form of exercise that you are not used to, you should work up to max intensity. Never ever jump right into a max effort attempt. That is only going to set you backwards.

E. Did you eat anything, again, after the training bout?

F. Exercise is meant to be hard. If you are conditioned, you can do HIIT. Many of my sessions leave me feeling like I want to puke, myself, and I would say I am in excellent shape.

G. Corn, again, recommend away, but do so only after you get the facts. I post a lot of generalities, but whenever I am helping someone one-on-one, I get the facts. Only way to do it properly. Without them, your recommendations are worth less than the crap on the bottom of your shoe.
 
corndogggy said:
Hell, mine are worth about that much, regardless. :D
Click to expand...

As are mine without the proper individualization.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top