If you’re looking for beginners HIIT workouts for weight loss, you’re in the right place! High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is one of the most effective ways to burn fat, boost metabolism, and improve endurance in a short amount of time. This powerful training method alternates between short bursts of intense exercise and brief recovery periods, keeping your heart rate elevated and maximizing calorie burn even after your workout is over.
Benefits of HIIT Workouts for Weight loss
- Burns More Calories in Less Time – This workout keeps your body in fat-burning mode for hours after your workout.
- Builds Muscle & Increases Strength – The combination of strength and cardio moves helps tone muscles while burning fat.
- Boosts Metabolism – HIIT increases EPOC (Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption), meaning you continue burning calories even at rest.
- Improves Heart Health – The intense intervals strengthen your cardiovascular system and enhance endurance.
20-minute HIIT workout for maximum fat burn
Warm-Up (3-5 Minutes)
- Jumping Jacks (30 sec)
- Arm Circles (30 sec)
- High Knees (30 sec)
Perform each exercise for 40 seconds, rest for 20 seconds. Repeat 3 rounds.
Lateral Hops : a powerful plyometric exercise that enhances agility, balance, and lower-body strength while torching calories. This explosive movement involves jumping side to side, engaging your legs, glutes, and core, making it an excellent addition to any HIIT or weight loss workout.
Butt Kicks – a high-intensity cardio workout that helps burn calories, improve endurance, and strengthen the hamstrings and glutes. This simple yet effective exercise involves running in place while kicking your heels up toward your glutes, engaging your lower body muscles and boosting heart rate.
Plank Jacks: a powerful full-body exercise that combines core strengthening and cardiovascular endurance into one dynamic movement. This exercise engages your abs, shoulders, glutes, and legs while elevating your heart rate, making it an excellent addition to any HIIT workout or weight loss routine. Start in a high plank position – Keep your hands directly under your shoulders, core tight, and body in a straight line.
Jump your feet apart – Like a jumping jack, move your feet outward while maintaining plank form.
Jump your feet back together – Return to the starting position while keeping your core engaged.
Jump Rope: one of the best cardio workouts for weight loss, endurance, and muscle toning. This high-intensity exercise engages your legs, core, and arms while improving coordination and agility. A 10-minute jump rope session can burn as many calories as a 30-minute jog, making it a time-efficient workout for fat loss.
Box Jumps – This dynamic plyometric exercise targets quads, glutes, and hamstrings, enhancing athletic performance. Incorporate into your routine for a challenging, calorie-burning workout.
- Find your box: Choose a sturdy box with a height that challenges you.
- Start in front: Stand facing the box, feet shoulder-width apart.
- Drive through your heels: Explosively jump onto the box, swinging your arms for momentum.
- Step down carefully: Step down one leg at a time, maintaining balance.
- Repeat: Perform multiple sets of 8-12 reps for increased power and explosive strength.
Squat to Press – Master the “Squat to Press” for full-body strength. Start with feet shoulder-width apart, squat deep, then explosively stand, pressing dumbbells overhead. Engage core, glutes, and shoulders. Repeat for reps. Perfect for building power and burning calories. Optimize your fitness routine with this dynamic exercise.
Side Lunges – Works the inner and outer thighs while increasing flexibility. Stand tall, step wide laterally, and bend the stepping knee, keeping the other leg straight. Push back up to starting position. Repeat on the opposite side. This targets inner/outer thighs, glutes, and quads. Engage your core for stability. Perfect for leg strength and flexibility.
Tuck Jumps – High-energy plyometric move that blasts calories and strengthens legs. Explode upwards, drawing knees to chest mid-air. Land softly, immediately repeating. Boost cardio, power, and agility. Engage core, quads, and glutes. Start with 3 sets of 10 reps, gradually increasing. Optimize for HIIT workouts. Perfect for home fitness, no equipment needed.
Sprawls – A burpee variation that engages the core and strengthens the entire body.
Jump Squats – Builds leg strength and burns calories. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, toes slightly outward. Squat: Lower into a squat position, keeping back straight and core engaged. Jump: Explosively jump upwards, extending hips and knees fully. Land: Land softly in the squat position, absorbing impact with bent knees. Repeat: Perform multiple repetitions for a challenging cardio and strength workout.
Plank to Shoulder Tap – Engages core and upper body
Lunges with Knee Drive : a dynamic plyometric exercise that trengthens legs and burns fat. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, toes slightly outward. Lunge: Step forward with one leg, lowering your hips until both knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. Drive Knee: Explosively drive the knee of your back leg up towards your chest. Return: Step back to the starting position, then repeat with the other leg.
Push-Ups – Builds upper body, Boosts cardiovascular health and core strength. Starting Position:
- Hands: Place your hands on the floor, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Your fingers should be pointing forward.
- Feet: Place your feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointed slightly outward.
- Body: Your body should form a straight line from your head to your heels. Engage your core muscles to keep your body rigid.
Execution:
- Push Up: Exhale and push yourself back up to the starting position.
- Lower: Inhale and slowly bend your elbows, lowering your body towards the ground. Keep your elbows close to your body.
- Pause: Pause at the bottom of the movement, keeping your chest a few inches off the ground.
Cool Down (3-5 Minutes)
- Deep Breathing & Shoulder Stretch (30 sec)
- Standing Quad Stretch (30 sec per leg)
- Seated Forward Fold (30 sec)
Each of these HIIT exercises can be combined into a killer fat-burning workout to help you lose weight, build strength, and boost endurance.
Tips
Remember to consult with your doctor before starting any new exercise program, especially if you have any health conditions. It’s also important to start slowly and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts as you get stronger!
-Perform this workout 3-5 times per week for best results
-Keep intensity high during each exercise
-Stay hydrated and eat a balanced diet