Best time for HIIT?

**Neo Sigma** · Posted On: 4/01/2009 4:26pm

So I've just started myself on an 8-week HIIT cycle(Tabata intervals on an elliptical). I've heard a few conflicting things on the point of when in the day to do it. It's possible for me to drag my ass out of bed before work with enough time to get my workout in, if it's the optimal time for it. Strangely enough, I'm actually eager to really get into it. I mostly just want to lose some of my flab right now, I'll probably hit the weights a little later.

My search-fu might be weak, but I didn't see anything on the forums about it when I looked.

**selfcritical** · Posted On: 4/01/2009 4:40pm

Hrm, do you do any other physically intense stuff we should know about for recovery and such?

**Neo Sigma** · Posted On: 4/01/2009 4:48pm

Judo on Monday and Wednesday nights from 7:15 to 9:15. My cardio days are Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

**BaronVonDingDong** · Posted On: 4/01/2009 5:27pm

I do HIIT and have done it at various times of the day and not noticed any great variations in how I feel.

If you're looking for an absolutely OPTIMAL time to do it in a strict sports-science sense, then I'm afraid I don't know the answer. In a purely anecdotal and unscientific sense, however, I would say do it whenever you feel most motivated, and just make sure it's at least two or three hours before bedtime or you'll be too hopped up to sleep. Before work sounds ideal.

Good luck with it.

**Asriel** · Posted On: 4/01/2009 6:27pm

Can you work that intensely on an eplliptical?

**GIJoe6186** · Posted On: 4/01/2009 6:59pm

I don't think theres much of a best time. Unless your an Olympic athlete hormone levels and all that crap don't matter.

What does matter is when you feel you can do it. You have a work schedule and Judo schedule so try to fit it in when its comfortable for you. If you like waking up and doing it before work, then do it. You probably will be more alert and awake for the day too.

I've also heard its best for fat loss to do it before you eat anything, so when you first wake up, because by that time, your body hasn't fed in about 8 hours and is burning fat. I would look into that more because I don't have a source, just heard it floated around. If anyone can find a source for that that'd be great cause I'm not gonna go looking now.

**Neo Sigma** · Posted On: 4/01/2009 9:22pm

Originally Posted by Asriel

Can you work that intensely on an eplliptical?

It's the best I've got. The track at the gym isn't in fantastic shape, and neither are my knees. I figure I'll jack up the resistance a little and that should do just as well.

Thanks to everyone else who responded. Like the saying goes, the best exercise to do is the one you WILL do.

**Yamaarashi** · Posted On: 4/01/2009 10:27pm

Originally Posted by GIJoe6186

I don't think theres much of a best time. Unless your an Olympic athlete hormone levels and all that crap don't matter.

What does matter is when you feel you can do it. You have a work schedule and Judo schedule so try to fit it in when its comfortable for you. If you like waking up and doing it before work, then do it. You probably will be more alert and awake for the day too.

I've also heard its best for fat loss to do it before you eat anything, so when you first wake up, because by that time, your body hasn't fed in about 8 hours and is burning fat. I would look into that more because I don't have a source, just heard it floated around. If anyone can find a source for that that'd be great cause I'm not gonna go looking now.

Isn't your body burning muscle first thing in the morning because it's in a catabolic state?

**Ka-Bar** · Posted On: 4/01/2009 11:03pm

I do it after I lift. Supposedly it's the best time because of depleted glycogen stores, etc. I suppose so, but I'm not that educated about it. I do it because I'll be damned if I'm gonna drive to the gym again, just to do another workout.

I also do it on the rowing machine, one, because it's more of a full-body workout than most cardio machines and two, when I've tried to do it on the elliptical, I feel like the damn bolts are gonna come apart or the whole thing will tip over.

**Asriel** · Posted On: 4/02/2009 6:47am

Originally Posted by Neo Sigma

It's the best I've got. The track at the gym isn't in fantastic shape, and neither are my knees. I figure I'll jack up the resistance a little and that should do just as well.

Thanks to everyone else who responded. Like the saying goes, the best exercise to do is the one you WILL do.

You could always try Tabata exercises?