Circuit Training

15 HIIT Workouts to do at Home or in the Gym

Justin Steele

High-intensity interval training (HIIT workouts) has the fitness industry buzzing because of its potential to torch maximum calories in a minimum amount of time. The idea is that you do short periods of all-out work followed by short periods of active rest to make the body work harder than it does during steady-state cardio. There are absolutely no excuses for not whipping yourself into shape.

To capitalize on the benefits of HIIT workouts, we reached out to George “Hit” Richards, celebrity fitness trainer and calisthenics expert; Pete Bommarito, C.S.C.S., U.S.A.W., a certified MAT Jumpstart Specialist and owner of Bommarito Performance Systems; and James Banks, a certified personal trainer at Performix House West Hollywood for a variety of interval workouts designed to burn fat, build muscle, and enhance sports performance. Get in the best shape of your life (and look like it, too) with these 15 fat-blasting HIIT workouts.

Workouts 1-5 are courtesy of Richards, 6-10 are courtesy of Bommarito, and 11-15 are courtesy of Banks.

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1. Burpee Interval Workout

Directions: Complete the following circuit 4 times, resting 1 minute after the burpees in each round.

1. Pullups x as many reps as possible in 30 seconds

2. Jumping Jacks x 60 reps

3. Burpees x 20 reps

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2. Jump Rope Interval Workout

Directions: Complete the following circuit 4 times, resting 1 minute after jumping rope in each round.

1. Mountain Climbers x 45 reps

2. Pushups x 20-30 reps

3. Front Plank x 1 min

4. Jump Rope x 1 min

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3. Resistance Band Finisher

Directions: Complete the following circuit 4 times, resting 1 minute after the curls in each round.

1. Jump Rope x 1 min.

2. Dips x 12-15 reps

3. High Knees x 30 reps each knee

4. Curls with Resistance Bands x 20 reps

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4. Lower-Body Interval Workout

Directions: Complete the following circuit 4 times, resting 1 minute after the calf raises in each round.

1. Sprint x 30 sec.

2. Squat Jumps x 45 sec.

3. Lunges x 20 each leg

4. Calf Raises x 50 reps

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5. Abs Interval Workout

Directions: Complete the following circuit 4 times, resting 1 minute after the half-burpees in each round.

1. Crunches x 50 reps

2. Bicycle Crunches x 1 min.

3. Situps x 15 reps

4. Hanging Knee Raises x 15 reps

5. Oblique Crunches x 20 reps (each side)

6. Half Burpees x 20 secs

James Michelfelder 6 / 15

6. Stair Stepper Machine Interval Workout

Directions: This can be performed on any machine that has piston-leg action, like the Cybex Arc, Keiser Runner, Versa-Climber, or any other stair-climbing machine where the foot is constantly fixed to the pedal. Set the resistance level high enough so that it’s challenging for the entire 30 seconds of work. Gradually increase the “stride length” level of the machine with each bout. This is the advantage of machines like Cybex Arc, where the distance between the feet (the height of the knee on the top leg versus the drop of the foot on the bottom leg) can be adjusted.

30 seconds of work immediately followed by 30 seconds of active rest is considered 1 rep.

Total time: 20-30 min.

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7. Battle Rope Interval Workout

Directions: Put the rope around a stable, immovable object like a pole, goal post, concrete pillar, or a heavy weight sled that won’t move, etc. Each end of the rope will come off this immovable object with equal distance so that you can grab the ends of the rope (one with each hand) and have it be tense on both sides. Half of the total reps will be with a double arm motion; half will be with an alternating arm motion.

1. Double-Arm Motion

Grabbing both ends of the rope (one with each hand), whip the rope up and down continuously as fast as possible. Both arms will flex and extend at the same time. The height of the rope on the upswing will depend on how high you can raise your arms comfortably. Brace the trunk and spine region hard when going through this entire motion. The hips will “lead the arms” in these motions from the upswing of the rope to the downswing of the rope, and subsequently from the downswing of the rope to the upswing of the rope.

2. Alternating-Arm Motion

Grab rope initially in the same manner as the double arm motion The arms will now alternate—as one arm goes up the other arm comes down. The hips will stay fixed on this one; get the motion from the arms. Still have the same “bracing” action of the trunk/spine.

The workout

10-20 reps (60 seconds of work immediately followed by 60 seconds of complete rest is considered one rep)

Total Time: 20-40 min.

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8. Sled Training Interval Workout

There are two protocols: elite athlete and basic level athlete. For the elite athletes, do a 40-yard sled sprint. Then, increase the distance of each successive sprint by 10 yards until you’ve done a single 150-yard sprint (12th sprint). Now, pyramid down, decreasing the length of the sled sprints by 10 yards every sprint until you’ve ran a 40-yard sprint again. For the basic level athletes, the distance will increase by 10 yards every two sprints and the pyramid back down will start after the eighth sprint until you reach the final sprint (14th).

Directions: Attach a weight belt around your waist, and a rope from the belt to the sled. Step forward so there is no slack in the rope to begin. Step out with one foot far in front of your center of mass, so the heel will strike the ground first, and the foot will then come in contact with the ground. The torso should remain upright at all times throughout each step; don’t lean forward and let the body weight aid in moving the sled. You want to feel as if your front leg heel dig and hip pull is the only thing moving the sled. Rest 30-60 seconds between sprints for both experience levels.

Professional/Elite athlete level: 23 total sled sprints

Sprint 1: 40 yards
Sprint 2: 50 yards
Sprint 3: 60 yards
Sprint 4: 70 yards
Sprint 5: 80 yards
Sprint 6: 90 yards
Sprint 7: 100 yards
Sprint 8: 110 yards
Sprint 9: 120 yards
Sprint 10: 130 yards
Sprint 11: 140 yards
Sprint 12: 150 yards
Sprints 13-23: 140 down to 40 yards (decreasing 10 yards every sprint)

Basic level: 14 total sled sprints

Sprint 1: 20 yards
Sprint 2: 20 yards
Sprint 3: 30 yards
Sprint 4: 30 yards
Sprint 5: 40 yards
Sprint 6: 40 yards
Sprint 7: 50 yards
Sprint 8: 50 yards
Sprint 9: 40 yards
Sprint 10: 40 yards
Sprint 11: 30 yards
Sprint 12: 30 yards
Sprint 13: 20 yards
Sprint 14: 20 yards

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9. Resistance Training Interval Workout

This will consist of strength and power exercises combined with other forms of conditioning work. Rest 20 seconds after each exercise. Run through the circuit 5-10 times. Time yourself to see if you can increase work capacity next session.

1. Dumbbell Squat and Punch

Holding two light dumbbells (10 pounds), bring arms up so elbows are bent, palms are facing down and forearms are parallel to the ground. Maintaining the arm position squat as low as possible, pause, stand and slowly punch the arms out until the elbows are straight then come back to start position (arms remain parallel to the ground during the entire punching action).

Reps: 20

2. Sprint and Change Direction to Sprint (10 total reps)

Sprint full speed 5 yards, immediately change direction and sprint back 5 yards
Sprint 10 yards out, 10 yards back
Sprint 15 yards out, 15 yards back
Sprint 10 yards out, 10 yards back
Sprint 5 yards out, 5 yards back

3. Rotational Lunge With Resistance Band

Fix a light band to a high pole, pillar, or some immovable structure. Standing with feet shoulder-width apart, grab band with both hands and interlock fingers. Move away from the fixture point of the band so the band is tense. Face to the side of where band attaches and extend your arms straight out, parallel to the ground so the band will be perpendicular to the arms. Keeping arms straight, rotate to the left and drop down into a lunge; pause, come back to start position.

Reps: 10-20 each side

4. Single-Leg Dumbbell Stabilization and Punch

Hold a light dumbbell in each hand in front of the body using a neutral grip with elbows bent. Keeping the right knee bent, raise the right leg up high behind you, while keeping left leg straight. Extend the right leg behind the body and moving torso forward. While in this position, punch arms straight out, keeping arms parallel to the ground (many people call this yoga airplane pose). Return back to start position. That’s one rep.

Reps: 10-20 reps (each leg)

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10. Sprint Interval Workout

Directions: High level (professional athlete level)

Sprint 89 yards in 10 seconds

Rest: 30-50 sec.

Repeat 10-20 times

Average level

Sprint 73 yards in 10 seconds

Rest: 30-50 sec.

Repeat 10-20 times

James Michelfelder 11 / 15

11. Full-Body Circuit Blast

Directions: This workout can be done using an interval timer or scaled in reps. For time, do 50 seconds of work followed by 20 seconds of rest. If you prefer reps, aim for 8-12 reps for each move.

Run a half-mile run followed by a 1-minute plank to warm up. This workout can be done using an interval timer or scaled in reps. For time, do 50 seconds of work followed by 20 seconds of rest. If you prefer reps, aim for 8-12 reps for each move. That’s one round; do four rounds of each circuit, taking 25 to 50 seconds rest at the completion of each round.

Circuit 1:

1. Dumbbell Squat + Overhead Press

2. Dumbbell Renegade Row

3. Dumbbell Russian Twist

4. Burpees (no jump at the top)

Circuit 2:

1. Dumbbell Sumo Squat to Front Squat (hold dumbbells down for sumo, then swing them up into front loading position for front squat)

2. Kneeling Dumbbell Alternating Hammer Curls

3. Suitcase Crunch (extend legs and arms fully, then crunch back in)

4. Speed Skaters

James Michelfelder 12 / 15

12. Dumbbell Interval Workout

Directions: Do a half-mile run followed by a 1-minute plank to warm up. This workout can be done using an interval timer or scaled in reps. For time, do 50 seconds of work followed by 20 seconds of rest. If you prefer reps, aim for 8-12 reps for each move. That’s one round; do 4 rounds of each circuit, taking 25 to 50 seconds rest at the completion of each round.

Circuit 1:

1. Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift

2. Dumbbell Floor Press (arms at 45 degrees, hips elevated in a bridge)

3. Jack Knife Crunch

4. Full Burpee

Circuit 2:

1. Dumbbell Reverse Lunges

2. Dumbbell Tricep Floor Press (keep arms close to sides)

3. Cross-body Mountain Climbers

4, Jumping Jacks + High Knees Combo (3 jumping jacks followed by 10 high knees is 1 rep)

James Michelfelder 13 / 15

13. Lower Body Interval Workout

Directions: Do a 1-mile run followed by 1 minute of dead bug exercises to warm up. This workout can be done using an interval timer or scaled in reps. For time, do 50 seconds of work followed by 20 seconds of rest. If you prefer reps, aim for 8-12 reps for each move. That’s 1 round; do 4 rounds of each circuit, taking 25 to 50 seconds rest at the completion of each round.

Circuit 1:

1. Dumbbell Clean + Squat

2. Dumbbell Alternating Snatch

3. Scissor Kicks with Toe Touches

4. Alternating Plyometric Lunges

Circuit 2:

1. Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift + Row

2. Alternating Dumbbell Front + Lateral Shoulder Raises

3. Pushup + Alternating Dumbbell Pull-Through (at the top of the pushup, pull the dumbbell across your body from left to right with right hand, then alternate sides)

4. Squat Jump + Mountain Climbers (2 squat jumps and 4 mountain climbers is 1 rep)

Justin Steele 14 / 15

14. Plyo, Strength, and Core Interval Workout

Directions: Do 20 squat jumps and 50 bicycle crunches to warm up. Repeat the first circuit two times, then rest for two minutes. Repeat the second circuit three times, then rest for two minutes. Finish with one round of the final circuit.

Plyo:

1. Kettlebell Swings x 10-12 reps

2. Jump Lunge + Squat Jump Combo x 10 reps

3. Plank Shoulder Tap + Pushup + Cross Knee-Drive Combo x 10 reps

4. Lateral Jump + Burpee Combo (lateral jumps from left to right, followed by 1 full burpee) x 10 reps

Strength:

1. Decline Pushup (with feet on chair, stool, etc) x 10 reps

2. Resistance Band Pull-Apart x 20 reps

3. Dumbbell Kneeling Military Press x 10-15 reps each arm

4. Dumbbell Single-Arm Row x 10-12 each arm

Core:

1. Dumbbell Weighted Situps x 25 reps

2. Leg Lifts x 40 reps

3. Controlled Cross-body Mountain Climbers x 50 reps each leg

James Michelfelder 15 / 15

15. Bodyweight Interval Workout

Directions: Do a 1-mile run to warm up. Then do the eight moves below, following by 1 minute rest. That’s 1 round. Complete 5 rounds total.

1. Burpees x 10 reps

2. Plank x 1 minute

3. Squats x 25 reps

4. Plank with Hip Taps (alternate lifting each arm to tap same-side hip) x 45 seconds

5. Navy Seal Burpee (do 3 pushups when you hit the ground) x 8 reps

6. Side Plank x 30 seconds each side

7. Squat + Reverse Lunge x 10 reps

8. Forearm Plank + High Plank x 30 seconds each

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1. Burpee Interval Workout

2. Jump Rope Interval Workout

3. Resistance Band Finisher

4. Lower-Body Interval Workout

5. Abs Interval Workout

6. Stair Stepper Machine Interval Workout

7. Battle Rope Interval Workout

8. Sled Training Interval Workout

9. Resistance Training Interval Workout

10. Sprint Interval Workout

11. Full-Body Circuit Blast

12. Dumbbell Interval Workout

13. Lower Body Interval Workout

14. Plyo, Strength, and Core Interval Workout

15. Bodyweight Interval Workout

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