How to HIIT the Gym, Without Taking a Hit to Your Immune System

Our health is a complex system of giving and taking. Just as withdrawing from a bank account without replenishing funds can disrupt our finances, taking repeatedly from our bodies without replenishing, can disrupt our health. We give our bodies the nutrients, energy, and sleep that it needs, all the while we put it through intense burnouts as we consistently exercise. In order to take the very best care of our bodies, we must find the balance between the give and the take to best support our overall well being and to ensure that we are always quick to bounce back. 

While taking care of ourselves can look like many things, at the core of it all, we are supporting our immune system. If we take from our bodies more than we give, our immune system will be put in a compromising position where it won’t be able to do its job! However, on the other end of the spectrum, if we only give and don’t take, we won’t be pushing our bodies to a state of better health. It can’t be said enough- it is a delicate balance.

Incorporate the following activities in your weekly routine to ensure that your immune system is taken care of while you find the right balance between withdrawing and replenishing!

Sleep: Getting a sufficient amount of z’s is possibly the best way to ensure you are replenishing your body. If you have a hard time falling or staying asleep, introduce a restorative sleep formula. 

Proper nutrients: Whether you have no dietary restrictions or if you are dairy and gluten-free, you need to ensure that you are getting enough protein, vegetables, healthy fats and carbohydrates in your diet! This is an easy way to give back to your body!

Sufficient protein: If you are taking from your body’s energy by strength training, you must give back with protein. Ensure that you are getting enough complete and incomplete proteins in your diet to fuel your daily activities!

HIIT 2 – 3 times per week: If you are incorporating the three points above and are sufficiently giving back to your body, try to get a HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workout in a few times a week to challenge yourself and to build lean muscle!

Haven’t done a HIIT workout before and don’t know where to begin? There is a free class waiting for you, where you can feel the burn and chat with a certified health and fitness coach about the best ways to support your health and immune system as you strive to meet your goals!