People have been raving about the new HIIT style workouts, or high intensity interval training, and for good reason. You get in the same calorie burn in a fraction of the time and you can combine both your strength and cardio into just a 30-minute workout. However, there is a new type of workout that scientists have found can be a great weapon in a busy person’s arsenal to stay fit in as little time as possible and it’s called HIIPA. So, what is HIIPA and how does it compare to HIIT exercises?
What is HIIPA?
Yes, another acronym for an incredibly complicated name, High Intensity Incidental Physical Activity or HIIPA, is a type of exercise that involves even shorter workouts than HIIT. The name is kind of funny, like “oops, I incidentally worked out” but these short bursts of activity can be really useful and don’t take much time at all.
Whereas your daily workout would be the meal of the day, HIIPA are like little snacks that your body can use to boost your metabolism throughout the day. When your schedule is packed full, fitting in even a 30-minute workout can be hard, and it isn’t suggested that you do more than three HIIT workouts a week anyway because it can be too taxing on your body.
Using HIIPA on your off days can keep your body doing some type of activity, which is always better than none.
HIIPA Benefits
HIIPA is a great way to increase your physical activity which strengthens your heart, helps you lose weight, and increases energy levels. All of this can be done in just a few minutes here and there throughout your day.
It is convenient, considering that you don’t have to block out time for it. You just look for opportunities to use it, and when you really start looking, you’ll notice that there are many ways to fit in activity than you even realized.
HIIPA can help you improve the quality of your sleep and even help you combat chronic disease like diabetes and heart disease.
How Can I Integrate HIIPA into my daily life?
If you think you could benefit from using HIIPA in your daily life, there are so many ways to incorporate this into your daily life. All you need to do is get creative.
If you are a mom, the best way to do this is with your kids. Kids naturally do HIIPA all day long. Think about how they play Tag or race each other for the ball or burst into an impromptu dance session. When you join in with your kids, not only will you be doing your body good, but you’ll be a “fun” mom.
When you are at the office, take the stairs instead of the elevator and try sprinting up a few of them. When you are on your lunch break, or even in a meeting, suggest a quick walk and talk to get your heart rate pumping instead of sitting at a desk.
Doing housework? Throw on some of your favorite boogying tunes and set a timer. Try to finish a chore before the timer goes off.
Do you have repetitive tasks that require waiting a few seconds in between? Do squats or jumping jacks while you wait.
There are so many opportunities that you can take advantage of to help squeeze in a mini HIIPA workout.