5 ways HIIT, HIRT & MMA can help you train better

Okay, so I know you've probably heard the acronyms HIIT, HIRT and MMA thrown around, but let me break them down for you.

HIIT = high-intensity interval training
HIRT = high-intensity resistance training
MMA = mixed martial arts

All of the above are mixed together in my Centr workouts to give you muscle-building, fat-burning, high-shred training sessions like you’ve never experienced before. Best of all, they’ll have you feeling strong, lean and loving life! This is my absolute favorite way to train and here's why.

1. No messing around – get it done in no time

I promise this won’t have you exercising for hours on end – no way, who wants that? Your training will be ticked off in 20-25 minutes, meaning you can squeeze it into your day easier and finding time to exercise won’t become a chore.

2. Fast and furious blasts fat

The work/rest interval style of HIIT and HIRT will have you giving your all for quick bursts of intense exercise, followed by periods of rest – burning maximum fat and calories as you go. How? The quick, intense exercise bursts will challenge your body’s metabolic response, so fight hard for it and know you’ve got a rest coming up.

3. Burn calories even when you’re not moving

How good is it to still be burning calories for hours after a training session? I have another acronym for you – EPOC. It stands for exercise post oxygen consumption, better known as the ‘afterburn effect’.

Huh? In short, varying your speed, power and intensity during a workout gives your body something to recover from when you finish. A couple of the recovery responses of EPOC are the release of more fat stores and a faster metabolism – so after all that fight you put into your session, you will be burning more calories and energy for hours while you sit at your desk or hang out with your kids.

4. Goodness for the mind and soul

It’s not just your body that will receive the benefits of your workouts – when you exercise, you release a whole bunch of natural, feel-good endorphins that keep your mind and soul vibrating on a much higher level. If life throws you a curveball or you’re in a funk, feeling tired, stressed or agitated for any reason – jump into a workout and I guarantee you’ll feel amazing for it.

5. No fancy equipment or gym membership necessary

The beauty of these workouts is that you don’t need to buy fancy equipment or join the newest gym in town (you’ve got Chris Hemsworth’s expert team in your pocket for that). You can use your body weight for resistance and if you need to add any weight to an exercise, you can raid the pantry for tins, jars or bottles. You can also train anywhere and at a time that works for you – in your living room when you first get up in the morning, the back garden while your little one is sleeping or grab a friend and head to the park or beach.