Quick & Dirty or Steady in 30?

Should you be doing High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) or Low Intensity Steady State Cardio (LISS)?
Should you be doing High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) or Low Intensity Steady State Cardio (LISS)?

It depends on what you’re hoping to accomplish with your workouts.

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) requires you to execute a certain exercise at maximum physical effort for a minute or two. You then rest for two to three minutes. This cycle repeats with different exercises until you are exhausted, which is roughly five times. HIIT includes exercises like burpees, mountain climbers, and jumping jacks.

Low Intensity Steady State Cardio (LISS) is aerobic exercise that requires you to operate at 60-70% capacity for at least 20 minutes. The intensity does not change through the entire workout. LISS exercises include walking, cycling, jogging, and swimming.

HIIT burns more calories, takes less time per workout, and builds lean muscle mass. There is greater chance of injury, and you can’t do it every day.

LISS improves cardiovascular health without building muscle mass, has a shorter recovery time, and is great for beginners. However, it can get boring and repetitive.

Listen in as fitness experts, Grace DeSimone and Neal Pire, discuss these two styles of cardio.

Additional Info

  • Segment Number: 2
  • Audio File: train_your_body/1610tb2b.mp3
  • Featured Speaker: Grace DeSimone & Neal Pire, Fitness Experts
  • Guest Bio: Neal PierNeal Pire is a nationally noted expert on fitness and personal training. He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and has served on the Executive Council of ACSM's credentialing arm, the Committee on Certification and Registry Boards.

    Neal served as vice president of a leading national health management company and now serves as an Exercise Physiologist at HNH Fitness, a medical fitness center in Oradell, NJ. He is widely sought after as a consultant for athlete training programs, performance enhancement centers and fitness industry management. As a 35-year veteran with deep understanding of the subject matter, he is often asked for background, commentary or analysis by media covering wellness, fitness, and personal training.



    Grace DeSimone Grace DeSimone
    has been in the fitness industry for over 30 years and brings a variety of experiences in commercial, corporate and community settings. She is the editor of ACSMs Resources for Group Exercise Instructors (LWW, 2011) and is an ACSM certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor. Grace is the National Director of Group Fitness for Plus One Health Management, an Optum Company.
  • Length (mins): 10
  • Waiver Received: Yes
  • Host: Melanie Cole, MS