She also recommends between one and four grams of carbs per kilogram of body mass within the few hours before exercising. If you weigh 70kg, that’s 70-280g of carbs in your system to get you through the strain of HIIT – that’s around 70g of oats with a medium banana or a couple of slices of toast with jam. “Try to leave 30 minutes between eating and working out to avoid digestive issues,” she adds.

Having a source of protein can also be useful for recovery. “Though it’s not a food source that improves training, it is a key macro to support muscle function,” she says. Research by the International Society of Sports Nutrition shows that protein within a few hours of your workout is the most important for recovery – and it doesn’t matter if this is before or after the session, so it’s advised to get it first if you know you’re busy after, says Chapman.

The most important thing to remember is that HIIT is hard – and your body knows it. Giving it some fuel beforehand will probably help you jump and crunch faster while supporting your long-term health – and who would refuse health-benefitting bagels?

HIIT workouts: why and what you need to eat before high-intensity interval training