When to do HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)

Treat HIIT cardio the same way you treat lifting weights;  that is, as a full blown workout.

Before you lift weights, always eat a solid meal 60-90 minutes before  hand. Same goes for HIIT.

With that said, you can do HIIT whenever you like, but bear in mind, you may  have problems getting to sleep if you perform this style of cardio training prior to bed time.

Personally, we would not recommend doing HIIT closer than 4 hours before you plan on going to  bed.

If your goals include building muscle with weights, minimize the  number of HIIT sessions to twice a week, on days that you do not lift weights.

The reason for this is to not overload your body and hamper the recovery time  it needs from both weight training and cardio sessions.

By lifting weights 3 times a week (with 30 minutes of low  intensity cardio performed in the mornings or post workout), that 1 or 2 HIIT  workouts on non-workout days are sufficient.

If you start to feel too burnt out, simply back off the high intensity interval  training.

Everyone has different recovering abilities… so you need to try different  scenarios to find which works best for you.

** The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.