HIIT is my jam. Definitely more engaging than marathon cardio. One of the reasons I was always drawn to weightlifting is the rep/set structure; by providing defined structure and goals, I am constantly driven to try for those goals during a workout. Long-term cardio is long enough that it becomes dreary and I get bored. HIIT nicely nails that set/rep structure, and it's a hell of a challenge to boot.
I've heard - not read, mind you, so I don't know where the science is - that HIIT is best in combination with other forms of cardio. That is, HIIT alone will give you explosive and short-duration endurance, but that long-form cardio is still needed if you're aiming to train for long-form endurance.
I'm just looking for cardiovascular health personally.
Swimming is a good time. I love swimming but I hate what it does to my hair.
But in all seriousness, if cardio is what you are looking for then I would also recommend a heart rate monitor. As a rule of thumb try to keep your heart rate at "180 - your age" for a good aerobic session.
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I've heard - not read, mind you, so I don't know where the science is - that HIIT is best in combination with other forms of cardio. That is, HIIT alone will give you explosive and short-duration endurance, but that long-form cardio is still needed if you're aiming to train for long-form endurance.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/sugar-heart-attack_b_4746440.html
As a rule of thumb try to keep your heart rate at "180 - your age" for a good aerobic session.
Running calculators say I burn some 700 Calories in a run alone...