When I do HIIT on the treadmill, I can only manage about 8 sprints, at 10mph, for 20 seconds, with one minute between them.

Then I do a little steady state (4mph ~ 4% grade) for 10 minutes or less and go home.

Sounds like you're really doing a lot of volume.

Coming from a complete and utter former cardio queen - it took me a LONG LONG TIME to wrap my head around only 20 or 30 minutes of cardio after lifting (HIIT only 2wice a week, the rest steady state or hills) until I started taking measurements.

The tape measurer doesn't lie. I've lost a pile of inches and I attribute that to my weightlifting.

If I would have started it a year ago instead of 3 months ago? I woulda been looking hella good in HALF the time.

I continually kick myself in the ass for thinking cardio was the end all be all. Sure, sure, it's great for your heart and other things, but one doesn't need to go balls out all the time to benefit from it.

I still don't believe it, but the tape measurer tells me differently!

I agree with Gostrydr 100%, as I'm living proof.

Julia