Circuit training suggestions or success stories?

courtneywiens
courtneywiens Posts: 148 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I want to get into circuit training. I usually do 60-90 min of cardio 6 days a week and weight training every other day with free weights, machines, body weight exercises like squats, pushups, etc, mixing it up every 8 weeks or so, but I have been plateauing and I think circuit training may be the way to go. I guess it would be similar to my strength training routines but faster? I'm not really clear on what it is, is it like Insanity and p90x? Because I do all my working out at the gym so DVDs are not for me.

Does anyone know of any good resources for getting into circuit training and finding good workouts and how to do circuit training effectively?

Or any success stories of doing circuit training?

Replies

  • justicer68
    justicer68 Posts: 1,223
    When I first lost all my weight (60 lbs) I did circuits everyday (well 6 days a week) and cardio on the treadmill. Circuit training really does work if done correctly.

    When doing circuits you don't take a break between exercises until you finish a set then only about a 30-60 break then repeat remaining sets. Here is one that I am currently doing:

    Exercise Reps\weight

    High to Low Rotation 20 - 32.5#
    Squat w/Bicep curl 20 - 10#
    Arm Opposite Leg Raises 20
    Squat to Cable Row 20 - 32.5#
    One legged squat w/donkey kick 20
    One arm chest press on ball 20 - 17.5#
    One arm db front raises. 20 - 10#
    One arm db bent over rows. 20 - 20#
    ball crunches. 20
    Leg Lifts 20
    Do 4 sets. First Set counts as warm up so NO BREAK between 1st and 2nd Set
    then a 30-60 second break between remaining sets
  • courtneywiens
    courtneywiens Posts: 148 Member
    When I first lost all my weight (60 lbs) I did circuits everyday (well 6 days a week) and cardio on the treadmill. Circuit training really does work if done correctly.

    When doing circuits you don't take a break between exercises until you finish a set then only about a 30-60 break then repeat remaining sets. Here is one that I am currently doing:

    Exercise Reps\weight

    High to Low Rotation 20 - 32.5#
    Squat w/Bicep curl 20 - 10#
    Arm Opposite Leg Raises 20
    Squat to Cable Row 20 - 32.5#
    One legged squat w/donkey kick 20
    One arm chest press on ball 20 - 17.5#
    One arm db front raises. 20 - 10#
    One arm db bent over rows. 20 - 20#
    ball crunches. 20
    Leg Lifts 20
    Do 4 sets. First Set counts as warm up so NO BREAK between 1st and 2nd Set
    then a 30-60 second break between remaining sets

    this looks similar to my workouts, i just don't think i'm doing them fast enough. plus i do 3 sets of 12 and then move on to the next. is it better to do 4 sets of 20 and do one at a time in a cycle? thanks for your help!!
  • justicer68
    justicer68 Posts: 1,223
    I think 4 sets of 20 but that's what I've been doing. A friend of mine who's a trainer gave me that workout and some others. The first set is for warm up so in reality you are doing three. I have found that doing 20 vs. 12 really gets you sweating. I look like a wet rat when I get done. :-) I hope this helps you in your journey. I have also increased the weights over time to try and keep in intense. By the fourth set you should be praying that you will make it through to the end. I just tell myself I am almost done just one more. lol

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