Strength Training Versus Circuit Training...

swishandflick

So I'm an idiot, because I've been doing a circuit training routine for the last three weeks (found here) http://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/stephanies-circuit-style-fat-burning-workout.html

It has squats, etc., but also things like jump squats and jumping jacks.

And I had been logging it as "strength training" on the calculator because I figured it incorporated weights so it must be strength training. I wore my heart rate monitor today (it's new), and I burned about 300 calories and my heart rate climbed up to 180 at it's peak but the average was 170ish.

Anyways, as you can see, I don't know a lot about strength training. So that is exclusively sitting at a bench or a machine lifting weights and nothing else? Just so I do it right next time?

I've been lifting 10 pound weights, but I'm thinking of moving up to 15 this week since it's starting to get easier.

Sycoholic

I would still log it as strength training. Just my opinion. I'd rather be on the low side logging exercises and the high side of food if my goal is weight loss. Not sure if there's a "circuit training" selection though. Doesn't sound like much help but at least it's an opinion.

swishandflick

Thanks. There is a circuit training selection, it's actually what I ended up using for today. The heart rate monitor said about 300...

I may just try not eating back all of my calories to balance it out. Though I usually enjoy doing that.

psuLemon

If MFP is estimating your calories, eat 50% of them back. But depending on how long you weight train (especially circuit training if you have short rest periods), 300 calories seems about right. But with 6 lbs to lose, I can tell you, 1500-1700 calories is good. How often are you working out and how long. Also, do you do any other exercise?


Additionally, if you want to optimize strength gains, then increase weight as much as possible to keep it in the 8-12 rep range. Also, it's ok to start with the machines until you get comfortable. Once you are comfortable, then you can do free weight. Free weight will just engage additional muscles.

WhataBroad

enter it under Cardio, either use the circuit training activity or create your own exercise but definitely go by what your HRM says you burned

swishandflick

Thanks!

MFP tells me to eat 1380 cals a day, which is what I stick to when I don't exercise, usually on Fridays and Saturdays. When I exercise I eat back all my calories so I end up eating more.

I work out 3-5 times a week. At least one of those days I'm doing the "pure" cardio on the elliptical for 30-40 min. and the machine says I'm burning ~300 cals.

On the other days I'm doing the circuit training for 40 minutes., the HRM said today it was ~300 cals.