Can HIIT replace running?
James Craig
Published Jan 13, 2026
“Numerous research studies have shown that HIIT programs can yield similar cardiovascular improvements when compared to more traditional, steady-state exercise programs, like running or cycling,” Kusmiesz said.
Is running better or HIIT?
Both forms of exercise provide an increase in calorie expenditure, leading to weight loss. However, calorie expenditure will depend on intensity and duration. As we've mentioned, HIIT will fatigue you much faster than running. Therefore, there is the capacity to burn more calories during the long run.
Can you do HIIT instead of cardio?
"HIIT is a great way to lose weight in less time. Most people can burn the same number of calories in a 20-minute HIIT workout than they can in performing constant cardio or strength training for 45 minutes. HIIT also increases lung capacity and blood flow within the body."
Is HIIT or running better for weight loss?
HIIT running was more effective than HIIT cycling for reducing total body fat, while lower intensities (below 90 percent maximum heart rate) produced better results in terms of abdominal and visceral fat loss.
Is a 20 minute HIIT workout enough?
I've found that the sweet spot is somewhere in the 20-30 minute range. If your workout lasts any more than 30-minutes, you're probably not working hard enough to optimize the benefits of HIIT.
18 related questions foundWhat happens if you do HIIT everyday?
HIIT is the perfect way to condense the benefits of activity into 30 minutes or less. But when it comes to an intense exercise like HIIT, doing it every day, or for periods longer than 30 minutes can put you at risk for injury, overtraining, mental burnout, and prevent muscle recovery.
What's better HIIT or cardio?
HIIT is definitely better at burning calories and helping you shed unwanted pounds. The biggest reason is the anaerobic form of exercise. It burns more calories than cardio both during and after exercising. This phenomenon is called the afterburn effect, or excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) effect.
Does HIIT lose belly fat?
Can HIIT reduce stomach fat? The answer is yes, according to a 2018 meta-analysis, which looked at 39 studies involving 617 subjects. “HIIT significantly reduced total (p = 0.003), abdominal (p = 0.007), and visceral (p = 0.018) fat mass,” the study's authors said.
What are the disadvantages of HIIT?
Cons of HIIT
It's a highly demanding form of training and can put strain on the body if you don't have a reasonable training base behind you. If a progressive training program is not followed overuse of HIIT can lead to over training and increased injury risk.
Can burpees replace running?
Burpees are a mix of multiple exercises–you hop, then you go into a squat, then into a push-up, and then hop up again. That's why without a doubt it burns more calories than running.
What can you do instead of HIIT?
4 Alternative Activities That Mimic HIIT
- Spinning. One way to achieve HIIT goals without having to run or sprint would be spinning or cycling. ...
- Boxing. Boxers use strength training and interval training to achieve maximum fitness results and gains. ...
- Trail Running. ...
- Swimming.
Does HIIT burn more fat than regular cardio?
Steady-state cardio is aerobic: It requires oxygen and is fueled mostly by stored fat. HIIT, by contrast, is anaerobic: The work intervals don't rely exclusively on oxygen, and are fueled mostly by stored carbohydrates. (Counterintuitively, HIIT makes you breathe harder, and burns more fat, than steady-state cardio.
Can too much HIIT cause weight gain?
HIIT may stimulate significantly acute cortisol response and chronically high level of this hormone can increase the risk of a number of health issues including weight gain, depression, digestive issues, chronic fatigue, sleep problems and brain fog.
Can you do a HIIT workout everyday?
HIIT is a great, safe, and effective workout, but there's no need to do it every day. Keep it to three times per week. You'll still reap the benefits and give your body time to recover properly.
How long does it take to lose weight with HIIT?
If you are looking to increase cardiovascular fitness and VO2 max, HIIT can offer results in 6-8 weeks. If you are looking to lose fat using HIIT, the results are 100% dependent on your ability to place yourself in a calorie deficit, which HIIT can help with, but is not the only factor involved in weight loss.
Is it better to do HIIT in the morning or evening?
Morning exercise has been found to increase cognitive abilities as effectively as a cup of coffee, and has also been shown to improve decision-making later in the day. Therefore, doing HIIT in the morning may lead to a more productive day, with higher levels of focus and thinking abilities.
Is HIIT better than walking?
“(With HIIT) you will produce an after-burn effect with 25% more calories burned post-workout compared to going for a run or walk,” said Reed, and your metabolism can be boosted by up to 10% for three days after a HIIT workout.
Does HIIT target fat?
HIIT forces your body to use energy from fat as opposed to carbs. This makes losing fat more efficiently. On a diet, it's hard to lose fat while maintaining the muscle. But studies have shown that with HIIT, you can preserve those hard-earned muscles while burning the maximum amount of fat.
Which burns more calories running or HIIT?
One study compared the calories burned during 30 minutes each of HIIT, weight training, running, and biking. The researchers found that HIIT burned 25–30% more calories than the other forms of exercise ( 8 ). In this study, a HIIT repetition consisted of 20 seconds of maximal effort followed by 40 seconds of rest.
Can I do cardio and HIIT on the same day?
HIIT workouts are tough on the body, so for most people, it's better to do these workouts on separate days. However, if you are already highly-trained, you can probably handle it. When doing both in the same day, keep the HIIT workout strictly cardio so that you're not overtaxing the muscles.
Is it OK to do HIIT 5 days a week?
Gottschall recommends that you only introduce HIIT after at least six months of consistent exercise, doing a mix of cardio and resistance training across five days a week. “At this point you can replace one cardio session with one or two shorter HIIT sessions, separated by two sleep cycles.”
How many calories burned 20 mins HIIT?
To test the calorie-burning potential of this type of workout, the American Council on Exercise put together their own 20-minute Tabata Workout. In just 20 minutes, they discovered participants burned between 240–360 calories, or 15 calories per minute.
How long does it take to start seeing results from HIIT?
If you're thinking, "Wow, the benefits of HIIT sounds amazing and I need to start ASAP," but also wondering, "How long will it take to see results from HIIT?," there isn't an exact answer. "It comes down to the individual . . . you can lose one to two pounds of adipose tissue within a week," Rondel explained.
Why am I not losing weight after HIIT?
If you are working a full-time job, going through life moments and doing HIIT classes four times a week, your body might be experiencing an overload, which will decrease your body's ability to shed those extra pounds, thanks to the hormone cortisol.
Why am I gaining weight while dieting and exercising?
Glycogen or sugar that your muscle cells convert to glucose is the energy source for your muscles. When you exercise regularly, your body stores more glycogen to fuel that exercise. Stored in water, glycogen has to bind with water as part of the process to fuel the muscle. That water adds a small amount of weight, too.