
The Hybrid Lab with Dr. Alyssa Olenick
EP 116: HIIT vs Sprint Intervals: A PhD Explains the Difference
That workout you've been calling HIIT? It might not actually be HIIT. And if you're doing it for specific benefits, that difference matters more than you think. → This video is a podcast version of a full YouTube video! Watch it here on Spotify (video edition) or YouTube: https://youtu.be/Me367A_QE_c Get $20 off your first month with code PODCAST: → https://www.thelyssmethod.com/ I have a PhD in exercise physiology and I built my entire dissertation around high-intensity interval training, so trust me when I say it's one of the most misunderstood concepts in all of fitness. We love to slap the HIIT label on anything fast or sweaty, but most group classes, box jumps, burpees, and kettlebell circuits aren't true HIIT or sprint interval training, even when your heart rate is sky high. In this video I break down what real high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and sprint interval training (SIT) actually are, why they have to be true cardio, how to structure the intervals, the heart rate and effort targets to aim for, and how often you should be doing them. I also demo the difference on the air bike so you can see and hear what each one is supposed to feel like. None of this is about shaming your favorite workout. Move in whatever way gets you moving. But if you want the real benefits these tools are known for, especially as a woman navigating perimenopause or menopause, you deserve accurate information on what they are and how to actually use them. New here? Subscribe for evidence-based training science without the fitness industry nonsense. If you want help adding cardio to your week the right way, grab the free cardio resource linked below. And if you want a program that does all the thinking for you across cardio, running, and lifting, check out The Lyss Method. TRAIN WITH ME HERE → https://www.thelyssmethod.com/programs FOLLOW ME ON IG → https://www.instagram.com/doclyssfitness/ LEARN MORE + FREE RESOURCES → https://doclyssfitness.com/ Cardio Essentials: https://doc-lyss-fitness.myflodesk.com/cardio-essentials-yt 0:00 Is Your "HIIT" Actually HIIT? 0:42 Why Your Fitness Class Isn't HIIT 1:12 Meet SIT: Sprint Interval Training 2:19 What Real HIIT Actually Is 3:00 Best Cardio for HIIT (and Why the Bike) 4:35 How to Structure HIIT Intervals 6:01 Heart Rate Targets for HIIT 6:47 HIIT Demo 7:04 Pacing Your Effort the Right Way 7:29 What Sprint Intervals Really Look Like 9:09 SIT Demo 9:53 HIIT vs SIT: Breathing & Heart Rate 11:24 Why This Can't Replace Burpees & Box Jumps 12:06 How Often Should You Do This? 12:36 Where to Go Next

