Parents have the toughest job in the world, which is why they need to stay fit, active and healthy. If you have been ignoring your fitness, you are not just harming yourself but your family as well: if you fall ill, your family suffers, too.

That said, it is understandable that parents might not have enough time for themselves. But this does not mean they cannot get fit.

If you lack time and wish to get fit fast, try high-intensity interval training. Better known as HIIT, this workout is – as the name suggests – highly intensive, so make sure you know what it is all about.

Fast results

HIIT is great if you are looking for fast results since it burns nine to 13 calories in just a minute, and up to 16 calories if done under professional guidance. Lose your belly fat and get toned within no time at all.

Your oxygen consumption increases significantly as well, by almost 9% in a week. Increased oxygen not only helps burn fat more quickly but is immensely helpful for building muscle strength, improving the health of your heart and organs, and maintaining overall health.

Know the dangers

HIIT workouts last from 30 to 60 minutes since they are high-intensity and require a lot of strength and endurance. But chances of injury are also high, so make sure you train under a professional coach.

If you notice the following symptoms after a few sessions, stop immediately as it means your body isn’t ready:

• Bleeding
• Abdominal pain
• Fluid leakage
• Vaginal pain or vaginal flatulence

Try doing your workouts before your children wake up. Doing high-intensity training after a day of running after kids will leave you exhausted and only increases the possibility of injuries.

Make it more fun

High-intensity workouts test your endurance and pain tolerance levels. If the initial excitement wears off and you start to lose motivation, try making it more fun.

Involve your kids and family. Of course, children should not be trying HIIT, but they can do simple free-hand exercises while keeping you entertained and motivated.

HIIT will not only help you tone your body more quickly, it will help you to stay mentally healthy. Just make sure you train under a professionally certified fitness coach. Stay active, work out regularly, eat healthily, and see the difference.

Erika Peres is a social media influencer, entrepreneur and director of multiple companies. She is a mother of two boys and has a passion for sports, fitness and lifestyle. She can be reached on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.