Question:

Is the majority of energy procured for HIIT from consumed carbohydrates or fat stores?

Answer:

Hey Garo,

Great question.

The workout time for HIIT workouts can be very, very short and during the actual workout you definitely burn up primarily glucose and glycogen stores.

After the workout is completed (4 to 30 minutes later) your body goes into recovery mode after the metabolic disturbance that just occurred.

Now your body starts work to refill the glucose and glycogen stores that you just drained during your workouts and it does this by breaking down fat stores within your body.

Some research shows that metabolism can be elevated for up to 36 hours after that workout and your body will be tapping into existing fat stores on your body to ‘recover’ from that HIIT workout bout.

I hope that helps to answer your question.

Train with purpose,

Kyle Battis, NSCA-CPT, CSCS
http://www.SecretsOfBurningFat.com
www.FatBurningInnerCircle.com