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If you’re looking to torch calories, build lean muscle, and boost your cardiovascular endurance in minimal time, a 35-minute full-body fat-burning HIIT workout is one of the most effective training methods you can choose. HIIT, or high-intensity interval training, combines short bursts of intense exercise with brief recovery periods, pushing your body to work harder and burn more calories in less time. This workout style is not only great for fat loss but also for improving strength, endurance, and overall fitness — making it perfect for busy individuals who still want maximum results. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about this workout, from the benefits and structure to the exact exercises you can follow today.
A 35-minute HIIT workout is long enough to give you an intense calorie-burning session but short enough to fit into even the busiest schedules. Unlike traditional steady-state cardio, HIIT keeps your heart rate elevated and creates an afterburn effect — formally known as excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC). This means your body continues to burn calories even after the workout is over, helping you achieve faster fat loss.
Another advantage of a full-body approach is that you engage multiple muscle groups in one session. By targeting your upper body, lower body, and core all in one workout, you maximize calorie burn and promote balanced muscle development. Whether you’re working out at home or in the gym, you can adjust this workout to match your fitness level with simple modifications.
HIIT workouts are designed to keep your body working at high intensity for short periods, allowing you to burn more calories compared to traditional workouts in the same amount of time.
Alternating between high and low-intensity intervals challenges your heart and lungs, improving cardiovascular efficiency and endurance.
This workout incorporates strength-based movements along with cardio bursts, helping you build lean muscle while shedding fat.
The afterburn effect from HIIT increases your resting metabolic rate, allowing you to continue burning calories for hours after your workout.
In just 35 minutes, you can complete a workout that delivers results equivalent to an hour of moderate-intensity exercise.
This workout follows a circuit format that alternates between strength and cardio-based exercises for a complete full-body burn. Each exercise will be performed for 40 seconds of work followed by 20 seconds of rest, and the entire circuit will be repeated three times. The final few minutes are dedicated to core work and a cooldown stretch.
Structure Overview:
Before starting, it’s essential to prepare your body for the intensity of HIIT. This will increase blood flow, loosen your joints, and reduce the risk of injury.
Warm-Up Routine:
Jump squats are a great way to start the workout by engaging your lower body and raising your heart rate. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, lower into a squat, then explode upward into a jump, landing softly back into the squat position.
Muscles Targeted: Quads, hamstrings, glutes, calves
Tip: Keep your chest upright and core tight.
Push-ups work your chest, shoulders, and triceps while also engaging your core. Start in a plank position, lower your chest toward the floor, and push back up.
Muscles Targeted: Chest, shoulders, triceps, core
Modification: Perform knee push-ups if needed.
Mountain climbers combine core activation with cardio intensity. Begin in a plank position and drive your knees toward your chest in a running motion.
Muscles Targeted: Core, shoulders, hip flexors
Tip: Keep your hips level and move quickly for maximum burn.
Hold a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height, squat down, then explode upward while pressing the weights overhead in one motion.
Muscles Targeted: Shoulders, quads, glutes, triceps, core
Benefit: Full-body power and strength move.
Burpees are a high-intensity exercise that targets multiple muscle groups while spiking your heart rate. From standing, drop into a push-up position, perform a push-up, jump back to standing, and leap into the air.
Muscles Targeted: Chest, legs, core, shoulders
Modification: Skip the push-up for a lower-intensity option.
In a plank position holding dumbbells, row one weight toward your ribs while keeping your hips stable, then switch sides.
Muscles Targeted: Back, biceps, core, shoulders
Tip: Avoid twisting your torso to keep core engagement high.
From a lunge position, jump and switch legs mid-air. This explosive move increases lower body strength and cardiovascular endurance.
Muscles Targeted: Quads, glutes, hamstrings, calves
Modification: Perform alternating step-back lunges instead.
Hold a plank and tap your opposite shoulder with one hand while maintaining a stable core. This move improves stability and core strength.
Muscles Targeted: Core, shoulders, chest
Tip: Minimize hip rotation for better core activation.
After completing the main circuit, finish strong with a quick core burnout:
Stretching helps improve flexibility, reduce soreness, and aid recovery. Hold each stretch for 20–30 seconds:
The key to fat-burning HIIT is pushing yourself during work periods. Aim for 80–90% of your maximum effort.
Even at high speeds, proper form ensures better results and reduces injury risk.
Exercises like thrusters, burpees, and renegade rows target multiple muscle groups, increasing calorie burn.
Use a timer or fitness app to monitor work and rest intervals, ensuring consistency.
Hydration supports energy levels and performance during intense workouts.
For optimal results, perform this 35-minute full-body HIIT workout 3–4 times per week, with rest or low-intensity recovery days in between. This balance allows your muscles to recover while still maintaining a high caloric burn throughout the week.
No matter how intense your workouts are, nutrition plays a major role in fat loss. Aim to fuel your body with lean proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. Post-workout, prioritize a balanced meal or shake that includes protein and carbs to support recovery.
Sample Post-Workout Meal Ideas:
The best 35-minute full-body fat-burning HIIT workout is not only time-efficient but also incredibly effective for building strength, boosting metabolism, and torching calories. By combining compound exercises, explosive movements, and core stability work, this session gives you everything you need in one powerful package. Whether your goal is to lose weight, improve endurance, or simply get a quick yet challenging workout, this routine delivers results. Commit to the plan, push yourself each session, and fuel your body with the right nutrition — and you’ll see noticeable improvements in both your physique and fitness level.
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