Cardiovascular Activity for women: HIIT or Long Distance

[SugarNSpice]

Which promotes a healthier body while minimizing any such muscle loss and promotes fat loss? I know our bodies are different than men, obviously being we're predisposed to higher estrogen levels than them.

[empresscat]

If you compare them based on the same number of calories being burned:

Intense,steady exercise for a prolonged period (such as distance running) is best for heart and lung health, but causes noticeable loss of muscle, and is not the most effective form of cardio for fat loss.

HIIT can actually increase muscle mass slightly. Sprinting in particular has been shown to have this effect. It is moderately good for fat loss. Biggest advantage is that you burn the calories faster, and don't have to spend as long a time exercising.

Low intensity exercise is the most effective for fat loss. (Such as brisk walking.) It may result in slight muscle loss. One study even showed that the fat loss could be maximized by breaking up the low intensity exercise into three or four shorter sessions through the day.

[beaniecool]

If you compare them based on the same number of calories being burned:

Intense,steady exercise for a prolonged period (such as distance running) is best for heart and lung health.
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Agree.

It also just depends on your goals. What are you trying to achieve? I know in my marathons days, I had to train long distances. You know the thought if you want to be good at something, you have to practice that something. If I wanted to have a good marathon time, I had to train long distances.

You heart definitely needs cardiovascular training. It cannot get good conditioning from weight training alone. So, high intensity cardio is great, but not for certain goals and you certainly won't achieve cardio endurance just doing HIIT.

But, all in all, look at what you want to achieve and follow those steps to your goals.

jen