3 Reasons Why It’s OK to Skip the Gym and Do HIIT Workouts Instead

While many gyms are currently closed, more and more of us are turning to fitness apps to stay fit. But even when gyms start to reopen, many of us will still dread going. And while we may try to convince ourselves it’s the best place to reach our health and fitness goals, what’s the point of going if we’re not truly enjoying the experience?

Try something new instead!

No matter what type of exercise you’re doing, the key to reaching your goals is consistency. In as little as 15 minutes, you can get in a great workout. If you work hard enough, you may even burn more calories than exercising for an hour at the gym.

Here are 3 reasons to skip the gym and do HIIT workouts instead.

Try This 15-Minute Workout

Ready for a calorie-burning workout you can do in 15 minutes without ever stepping foot into a gym?

Tabata is a form of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which combines short bursts of intense exercise with periods of rest or low-impact activity. Alternating between hard-charging intervals and short rest periods elevates your heart rate to at least 80 percent of its maximum capacity, which is the optimal fat-burning zone.

Add this quick Tabata workout to your weekly routine to achieve the same results as regular gym enthusiasts.

Tone your arms and develop your upper-body strength with push-ups, shape beautiful legs with bodyweight squats and scorch belly fat with mountain climbers. Work hard for 20 seconds followed by 10 seconds of rest. Repeat each exercise for a total of eight rounds with a one-minute break between exercises.

To get the most out of this Tabata workout, perform each exercise as quickly as possible while maintaining good technique. Focus on maintaining the same number of reps each set. However, don’t get discouraged if the number of reps decreases—that’s a good indicator that you’re going all out.

Exercise 1: Push-Ups (Repeat 8 Times)

REST 1-MINUTE

Exercise 2: Squats (Repeat 8 Times)

REST 1-MINUTE

Exercise 3: Mountain Climbers (Repeat 8 Times)

REST 1-MINUTE

How Many Calories Will You Burn?

The number of calories you’ll burn depends on a number of factors—your intensity level, body weight, height, genetics, age, etc. You could burn between 150-250 calories from this 15-minute workout.

3 Reasons to Skip the Gym and Do HIIT Workouts Instead

You’ll burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time. Research has found that HIIT burns 25-30% more calories than other forms of exercise. This means you’ll burn more calories than biking or running in ⅓ of the time. So, look forward to exercising less and gaining more.
You’ll drastically improve your metabolism. Studies indicate HIIT helps you burn more calories long after you’re done exercising by shifting your body’s metabolism toward using fat for energy instead of carbohydrates.
You’ll scorch fat. Researchers found that people who perform HIIT three times per week lost 4.4 pounds (2 kgs) of body fat in 12 weeks without any changes to their diet.

If you’ve been making excuses for not going to the gym, it’s time to try something new. Add HIIT to your weekly workout routine and reap the benefits of a new you in 2021. Grab a water bottle and your mat and get in the best shape of your life in just 15 minutes.

If you like this workout, explore short HIIT sessions and more in the Gymondo app. Whether you’re a beginner or a fitness pro, you’ll find workouts for your level, style and goals. Start with a free trial today.

TRY FOR FREE