I've just done my first ever HIIT workout

[confusedofengland]

I did a beginner one, 10 minutes, designed for mums (by a mum).

Is it normal to feel like I'm dying?! Obviously not quite, but I feel a lot more exhausted than I thought I could in just 10 minutes!

Also, do i need to do another one today? Or go on my exercise bike? Or is just 10 minutes a day enough? I am 41 & rather overweight, so weight loss & fitness are my main goals. Have no money & little time so these seemed like a good option.

I'm amazed you can actually post. I thought I'd have a heart attack the first time I did one!!!!
Well done for doing it.

HIIT is much harder than conventional exercise, it’s designed to increase your heart rate. I’m getting back into fitness after pregnancy so am doing 10 mins a day for now.

Well done for doing your first one. I’d take it slow, do it again tomorrow and gradually build your fitness, you’ll only injure yourself if you go too hard too soon. Remember to stretch afterwards too.

Yes that’s normal! When you first start anyway, you’ll be amazed at how much you improve. I think ideally you’re supposed to do 20 mins of exercise each day. I use the 7 minute workout for women app and do a few of those, mixing up the levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced).

Oh yes, and if you have any energy left, try a YouTube yoga video, something gentle like yoga with Adrienne to stretch properly afterwards!

Well done!

Yes it's normal. And it never gets easier, because you get better at it!

Well done! (again)

I love a hiit workout. I like Emi Wong on YouTube. I use my treadmill too, doing alternate sprints and weights/body weight stuff. I would never have believed that 45 seconds of an activity could be that exhausting!

this comment won't be popular but as someone who works out regularly I hate HIIT and I don't understand why a newcomer to exercise would want to start with it.

I suppose 10 mins is a bit different, I went to a 30 min class but now I only ever go if I have that "bursting with energy that MUST be burned" kind of feeling. if you are new to exercise, wouldn't you be better doing something more enjoyable?

Rosa that is a fair comment & I see where you're coming from. For me it's about being able to find the time to do something & the fact I can do it at home is even better. I intend to go to the outdoor gym when I can, but it was raining today so I couldn't. Also it's 15 minute walk away so I'd need to devote 1 hour of my day total, but with thr HIIT that can be 15 minutes.

I've had a rest & now feel pretty energised, so I did 20 minutes on my exercise bike (moderate pace). I've also managed to do loads of stuff round the house which I've been putting off! Feeling rather hungry though, so must be careful not to eat loads of calories!

Also Rosa, I'm not new to exercise, but I've never found something that works for me. In the past have tried swimming, exercise bike & walking 10,000 steps every day, but they've fallen by the wayside so hoping this works

Actually @RosaWaiting HIIT is the quickest way to increase fitness - it's unpleasant of course, but for someone wanting to get into exercise it's ideal as it paves the way for cardio becoming easier and even enjoyable. It also gives fast results which is a bonus.

as someone who works out regularly I hate HIIT and I don't understand why a newcomer to exercise would want to start with it.

Because different people like different things?

sure, different people like different things

I didn't mean to be patronising and I massively apologise.

I just know that HIIT is heavily pushed and I wondered if OP was new to exercise and might want to try something else, but you have, so I'll shut up and go away now!

I do hiit followed by yoga.
Or used to! I need to get back to it!

I suppose it depends what you like though. I'm a runner so will regularly run for 90 mins-2 hours. It's lonely and boring sometimes. Hiit is exhilarating, I feel like I've properly worked out if I do an hours circuits, I meet people of all ages and fitness levels (and never thought I'd be a fitness class person!) and more importantly it actually gets visible results. And Never gets boring because each activity is only 1 minute.