Circuit training workouts are endurance and strength that you can do just about anywhere fitness training. In addition to weight loss, such workouts like that help enhance strength and cardiovascular fitness. A dynamic and fast-paced experience is provided by the circuit training workouts combining different exercises into a circuit and making the person perform them in a continuous loop. Besides, the guide also examines how circuit training can be beneficial, for example, how it compares to HIIT training and how it helps to burn calories.
Besides that, we are going to link applicable articles from our blog such as HIIT Workouts at Home: The Best Equipment and Exercises, Cardio Exercises at Home: Your Ultimate Guide to Boosting Fitness, and others, which will also be explained in this article, so you will know clearly how circuit training workouts are essential for a bigger fitness journey.
Table of Contents
What is Circuit Training Workouts?
Circuit training is a mode of exercise that challenges the practitioner to perform several different exercises in a continuous fashion usually with minimal or no breaks in between each activity. More frequently, one “circuit” consists of exercises designed to target different muscle groups after which a participant of circuit training then repeats the entire compilation a predetermined number of rounds or for a specific period of time. This is a type of workout that can be done with the use of various equipment such as dumbbells, resistance bands, and the bodyweight itself.
The most remarkable thing about circuit exercises is the flexibility they allow. That being said, you can set a circuit for either strengthening the cardiovascular system, boosting muscles, or perhaps both thereby making it an ideal workout for beginners as well as fitness freaks who are advanced.
How Circuit Training Workouts Differs from HIIT
Circuit training and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) are very often erroneously interpreted as the same, though they possess their particular characteristics. HIIT is a high-intensity intermittent exercise regimen that consists of short bursts of intense exercise alternated with recovery periods. Contrary to this, circuit training is training with weights and exercises that is composed of a continuous, coordinated cycle of different exercises aimed at different body areas with only a few breaks in between them.
There are two main types of training are High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Circuit Training, but there is a difference between them. The former consists of time segments in which you work on that you are doing your best and the latter consists of the time segments throughout which you are supposed to try and go as far as you can. Circuit training on the other hand is the best option because it is a more balanced exercise that can be done for a longer period. You can learn more about HIIT in our post HIIT is Fun and Other Lies: A Workout that Burns Fat Like No Other where we discuss what the most effective exercises and equipment are.
Benefits of Circuit Training Workouts
Every single athlete is delighted by the multitude of benefits that circuit training provides, regardless of their level of fitness. Several of the benefits include:
Improves Cardiovascular Health :
Circuit training is the combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercises is one of the most powerful cardiovascular workouts. The high intensity is helpful in the blood stream where you breathe harder and your pulse gets faster and it also makes sure your heart pumps well. Take a look at the article called Cardio Exercises to Do at Home: Your One Stop to Fitness for more running workouts.
Enhances Strength and Endurance:
Through circuit training workouts, various muscles get exercised in one session, thus endurance and strength grow. You can fit in ridiculed exercises, such as push-ups, resistance bands, or light weights in the program, if you like. The course publication Mastering Functional Strength Training: Benefits & Tips talks about the joining of strength as the new workout.
Boosts Metabolism :
Circuit training workouts aids in the boosting of the heart rate which in turn increases the metabolic rate in the body. This in turn allows you to use the calories you eat while at the same time losing the extra fats.
Time Efficient :
Circuit training is one of the best ways to exercise the whole body in a short time. It is very helpful for those people who are usually busy and can still work out and achieve their goal in a very short time.
It can be performed by circuit training from calisthenics to weight lifting to exercise which is the common form of exercise. However, in the case of a health club, you may find free weight workouts to be helpful.
Circuit training is one of the main reasons why people prefer it, as it is very effective for overweight people. Through a combination of strength and cardio training, you can burn calories while also building muscle. Later on, we will delve into the details of how circuit training helps in weight loss.
Circuit Training Workouts vs HIIT Workouts: Which is Better for You?
The circuit training and HIIT debate commonly arises because of separate preferences and diverse fitness goals. Both present clear advantages, but the choice of one over the other is contingent on which one best suits your goals.
Circuit Training Workouts for Overall Fitness :
Circuit training as a rule includes complete body workouts, which is by and large the strength of endurance, muscle, and elasticity. Doing both tear and cardiovascular training, it is then possible to be working out your muscles while working on different machines or groups of muscles. Therefore, circuit training is a type of exercise in which one does a certain level of effort and then maintains it, what is a good way for them to be involved in the exercise, as they feel that they are less exhausted than in HIIT, but still have a proper result of the exercise.
HIIT for Maximum Intensity in Less Time :
Conversely, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) focuses on exercising with all the energy you got. Short explosive periods of exercise as well as quick rest periods make HIIT a great workout option for developed cardiovascular health, successful weight loss, and quick but high-intensity calorie burn too. In addition, HIIT may be a more preferable option for a person who wants to lose weight fast. Besides, there has been more coverage of HIIT in our HIIT Workouts at Home article.
| Feature | Circuit Training | High-Intensity Interval Training |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Series of exercises performed with minimal rest breaks | Short bursts of high-intensity exercises mixed by rest |
| Intensity Level | Moderate to high-intensity workouts | Very high intensity |
| Duration | 20-60 minutes | 15-30 minutes |
| Focus | Strength and cardio | Mostly Cardio combined with , at less extent , strength |
| Goal | Little Rest between exercises and generally high intensity. | Get the greatest calorie loss and cardiovascular fitness. |
| Rest Periods | Only very short breaks of 10-15 seconds between exercises. | Very long rest periods between exercises with high intensity |
| Target Audience | It can be suitable for every fitness level since it is completely self-secure. | Preferably these are only suitable for people heavily involved in sport. |
| Example Exercises | Squats, push-ups, lunges, jumping jacks. | Sprinting, burpees, kettlebell swings |
Circuit Training Workouts for Weight Loss
Does the mere idea of getting rid of excess weight and becoming thinner attract you? If so, besides other activities, circuit training will make a perfect fit in your workout schedule. This is because it pulls coverage of the whole body with the strength portion and keeps helping with the fat-burning effect with the cardio sessions. Here’s how circuit training can help with weight loss :
Increased Calorie Burn :
Circuit training workouts aims at increasing the heart rate that turns into a mode for a high calorie burning workout. When you keep on moving from one exercise to the next, your body is constantly active, hence, the total calorie burn is increased.
Combines Strength and Cardio :
Muscles can be built up by strength training and the more muscles you build, the more calories your body burn even at rest. A combination of strength movements and cardiovascular exercises burns fat and the effects are still felt even after the workout session ends. If you want to know other ways of reducing weight, please refer to our article on 9 Effective Weight Loss Tips that will Help You Transform Your Body.
Variety Keeps You Engaged :
Motivation is the major cause of trouble during the weight loss process, though it is ignored by most of the people. Circuit training workouts change so fast that it keeps your mind out of the rut and you are excited, as there is always something new to try. This alternation can be your saving grace in landing a spot at the start of your weight loss journey.
Full-Body Workouts :
This workout program enables you to exercise all the big muscle groups that results in you losing body fat in various parts of the body. This is a particularly good way for people who want to lose weight to do a full-body approach.
Increased Metabolism :
Circuit training workouts is a direct cause of the Phoenix rise of metabolic rates. You, therefore, do not only utilize your calorie stores during your workout, but you continue doing that even after the workout. You can aim for speedy and gradual weight loss by engaging more in a gym at home. Check out our article Affordable and Best Home Gym Equipment for Every Space for recommendations.
Sample Circuit Training Workouts for Weight Loss
Let us discuss in detail how you can do a circuit training workout with a minimum of equipment, at your home.
Bodyweight Squats
- 15 reps
- Specifically, shape your thighs, backside and the heart portion of the body by a jump session.
Push Ups
- 10 reps
- Train your chest, shoulders, and triceps with this workout.
Mountain Climbers
- 30 seconds
- A very good way to increase cardiovascular health in addition to improving your core is with mountain climbers.
Lunges
- 10 reps per Leg
- Legs, glutes, and balance will also be improved in lunges. We made a botanical dietary supplement even better than those of other brands, by incorporating this challenging natural formula.
Plank Hold
- 30 seconds
- Activates both your core and shoulder muscles.
Jumping Jacks
- 30 seconds
- An aerobic workout to keep your heart rate high.
Wait for 1-2 minutes to rest after the circuit workout, then start all over. 3-4 times, this couple of strength and cardio will ensure you lose fat and at the same time build muscle. If you are passionate about bodyweight exercises, check out Effective Calisthenics Workout Routines for Everyone within these routines.
Conclusion :
In my opinion, circuit training workouts is one of the best methods that is very flexible, fun, and easy to find time for in your everyday routines, which can help you lose weight. It also perfectly fits your demand for other purposes such as warming up before regular exercises. It is also compatible with other types of exercises such as HIIT, strength training and calisthenics.
Whether you’re creating a dedicated space for circuit training at home, consider getting our Top Basic Weight Bench for Home Gym: Affordable & Adjustable or Best Weights for Home: Top Picks for Your Workout to have the right equipment in your home gym.
ACE Fitness or Mayo Clinic, which are respected sites with experts in the field of fitness, can provide additional insights into workout techniques. Further, they could suggest ACE Fitness or Mayo Clinic to gain more information on fitness, workouts, and home gym setups.
FAQ’s
What is circuit training?
Circuit training is a full-body workout that focuses on the fast-twitch muscle fibers of the body under the load of speed or resistance. It is a form of resistance training and a type of plastic training. It uses both the strength and cardiovascular systems of the body. Therefore, it results in the greater ability to enhance performance and get health benefits.
What is circuit training workouts?
To perform a circuit training workout, a sequence of exercises (or stations) will be set up, which you should complete in the order that is designated, most likely two to four sets of each exercise. Variations will also differ and a point of clarity and focus will be left for your fitness goals.
Circuit training is best described as what?
Circuit training is a word that is frequently used to refer to a high-intensity interval training workout that consists of undefined exercises of muscle groups, intervals of low-intensity exercise without rest, and short rest between the hours to keep a high heart rate throughout the training period.
What is circuit training and how can it be aerobic?
Circuit training can be aerobic when it also includes exercises that help you to raise your heart rate, which in turn improves your cardiovascular fitness like improving your strength with burpees, improving your anaerobic system with mountain climbers.
What is one goal of circuit training?
One of the objectives of the circuit training method is to boost the three main systems for fitness, which are strength, endurance, and cardiovascular, as well as helping with weight control.
What does circuit training mean?
Circuit training is a method of exercising where you go through a series of different exercises in a particular order, concentrating on different muscle groups, hence, strength and aerobic capacity are enhanced. The goal is to perform the workouts for as long as the users are comfortable.
What is the difference between interval and circuit training?
The difference between interval training and circuit training has to do with the format, while interval training focuses on short high-intensity exercises and then rest, circuit training is a set of exercises that you perform one after the other with little rest between each.
What are the benefits of circuit training?
Some of the advantages of circuit training are improved cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, endurance, the time efficiency of training, and suitability for all fitness levels as well as being an effective method to lose weight.
What is circuit weight training?
Circuit weight training is a workout that combines the traditional weightlifting exercises with principles of circuit training. This workout is designed to be performed in a continuous circuit format for building strength and endurance.
How to do circuit training?
In order to do circuit training effectively, one must choose various exercises that will target different muscle groups, do each of them in a row with little rest time, and repeat the circuit some rounds or time.
What is the goal of circuit training?
The purpose of conducting circuit training is to enhance the general physical condition which includes the physical elements of the endurance, strength, and cardiovascular system, as well as, the burning of the calories that further causes the weight-loss effect.
What is the definition of circuit training?
According to the definition, circuit training is a type of workout that involves performing a series of exercises in succession, which targets various muscle groups with low hiatus between sets, often containing a strength and cardio mix.
What are the main differences between a HIIT workout and circuit training?
For instance, the nervous-persistent aspect of HIIT consists mainly of the need to stay between the maximum-endurance point and short rest intervals while the circuit routine involves a mixture of exercises done in a continuous way…
