| Most people are fairly familiar with circuit training, if they | | | | the weight) you will not see consistent gains in ability or |
| have been to a gym, that is. The concept of circuit | | | | impact. You really need to throw in variety. Like maybe |
| training is pretty straight forward. It's a series of | | | | do a free weight routine (dumbbells or whatever) |
| machines that make up an overall body workout. | | | | every few weeks to shock your body and make it |
| "Curves" has based an entire franchise around circuit | | | | work harder. |
| training specifically for women, but there are pros and | | | | Another downside to circuit training is it becomes |
| cons to the concept. | | | | boring after a short period of time. Variety, again, is the |
| First off, I am not knocking the concept, so don't take | | | | spice of life, and if you don't have it in your workout |
| this article the wrong way. For someone who doesn't | | | | routine you tend to lose motivation. To overcome this, |
| have time to plan a fitness regiment, or doesn't have a | | | | you might want to try varying what you do with that |
| trainer or the desire to customize a workout, it is ideal | | | | equipment. Maybe you are comfortable on the circuit, |
| as a starting point. The various machines hit all the | | | | and don't want to wander around the gym looking lost, |
| major muscle groups and can be used three times a | | | | so instead do supersets. Instead of your normal |
| week for a total body workout. That is a huge plus. | | | | number of sets (example, three sets of ten reps) try |
| The other huge plus is that people don't have to think | | | | decreasing the weight to 60% of your normal amount, |
| much about their workout, just go in and knock it out. | | | | and do ten sets of eight reps. Decrease the time in |
| Simple is optimal for a lot of folks. | | | | between sets to 20 or 30 seconds, and this will not |
| One downside is that the circuit only hits the major | | | | take up much more time, and it adds a cardio aspect |
| muscle groups and doesn't give you variety or subtlety. | | | | to your workout. You heart rate will rise after ten quick |
| For example, many folks have trouble with rotator cuff | | | | sets, I guarantee it. |
| injuries. It's a common thing for casual sports buffs to | | | | Circuit training can be a valuable part of your fitness |
| tear the cuff, yet most circuit training does nothing | | | | routine, and I strongly recommend that everyone |
| towards helping prevent that. The variety factor | | | | incorporate it into their workout schedule. The setup of |
| makes circuit training effective for a somewhat limited | | | | the circuit and the ease of the flow makes it ideal for |
| period of time. The human body is amazing in its ability | | | | those times when you can't devote a lot of time to |
| to adapt, and if you are performing the same | | | | your fitness commitment, but you don't want to lose |
| exercises over and over (even if you increase or vary | | | | momentum. |