Circuit workouts

S

Stepper86

Cathlete
Hi everyone in Catheland!
First of all, Happy Holidays to all of you!

I wanted your opinion on something. I happened upon an old issue of Self magazine.... It is te Feb. issue, 2005 with Eva Longoria on the cover. It says that you should skip circuit training because "despite its popularity, it's not the most time-efficient way to work out". "You are not working hard enough at either cardio or weight lifting to get a significant benefit from either one."
I just wanted to get your thoughts on this.... All of you who have done Bootcamp or Circuit Max... do you agree with this, or do you think they are talking about a Curves type workout?

Just wanted your expert opinions :)

Once again, Happy Holidays. May 2006 be your year to really shine!!!!!

Steph
 
Steph-
I remember reading that and thought "yes, well, the writer hasn't met CATHE!!!" and then I realized they probably were talking about Curves. Which makes sense, I guess. I think they all have their place- not so long ago, Curves would have made significant changes in my life and body. I feel like the work I put in over the years has earned me an ability to do a Cathe circuit, but I still do cardio-only and weight-only workouts to mix things up. I think the author is probably correct, but it doesn't keep me from tossing a circuit workout in my mix!
Happy Holidays!
 
I think it really depends on your goals. I was just reading an article that said circuit training wouldn't get you "huge" muscles, i.e. a body builder. Well, that really isn't my goal. For me, a good solid circuit keeps my heart rate up, works every body, and just gives me a totatl body worked out feeling. It's helping me burn lots of calories, which I want, so is it effective for me? Yes. Is it efficient for me? Yes.
 
Cathe has different types of circuits you can mix to your advantage. A mainly cardio is like CM or CW. A mainly weights one is HSC and BC. I do think you can get great results mixing the two types as long as you are not a hard gainer. My heart rate is way up there all the time so I know I'm getting good cardio too.
Beth
 
Strange, the most recent "Fitness" magazine is promoting circuit training as a good way to burn calories.

I'd say this is true for circuits like those at "Curves," which are beneficial for beginners, but have great limitations.

I also agree that by combining cardio and weights you don't get the potential gains in either that you could by separating the two, but if you aren't looking for maximum muscle and/or maximum cardio condition, or if you integrate circuit workouts in a rotation that also includes separate weights and cardio, I don't see the detriment to doing circuit workouts.
 
I agree with Kathryn. I look at Cathe's circuits as more of a cardio, but enough weight work to help maintain as part of a rotation. I like to use these on a Monday, after a day off. It makes me feel like I'm getting back on track:)
Edited to add: just got CM/CK for Xmas, and can't wait to try these out!
 
>I also agree that by combining cardio and weights you don't
>get the potential gains in either that you could by separating
>the two, but if you aren't looking for maximum muscle and/or
>maximum cardio condition, or if you integrate circuit workouts
>in a rotation that also includes separate weights and cardio,
>I don't see the detriment to doing circuit workouts.

Kathryn has hit the nail on the head here. As part of an overall rotation of mainly separate cardio and weights workouts, circuits are a nice change of pace.

But I don't think I'd want to rely solely on these unless you're a beginner.

As you build fitness, you'll have to work too hard at revving up your heart rate to want to be handling weights. As you build strength, you'll need heavier weights to go fast enough to get a decent cardio workout. JMHO. And probably not so well expressed:)
 
I've read the same thing. I agree that circuit training dosen't focus on either one, therefore you should do separate workouts that are just cardio or just weights. If you are happy with what you are doing then keep going.



Here is something Cathe mentioned in the past in a post, but the question was about the difference between interval training and circuits.


Cathe:
There are varied definitions out there because I know I have read of many.

However, in my book, when I refer to interval training, it any high intensity cardio training in which you have high intensity blasts mixed in with recovery blasts to stimulate better overall aerobic capacity. This in turn makes you more proficient at your steady state workouts, strengthens your heart muscle, improves your ability to work at higher intensity levels without putting you at greater risk of injury since you are now stronger to handle this. It also burns more overall total calories which will aid in fat loss.

Circuit training, again in my book, is where you alternate cardio with weight training to gain benefits of both strength training as well as cardio conditioning all in one workout. I like to use these types of worouts when I am tight on time or looking for that one extra workout for the week that touches on all the things I already worked hard earlier in the week. Depending on its structure, sometimes these can be used as plateau breakers or stamina testers.

I personally do not find one to be better then the other since they are so different in nature. Depending on what your goals are, you may find one adding more value then the other at a particular time.

As for where the circuit training fits in, as mentioned above, I like to put them in as the "toucher upper" workout.

For example S&H:

Mon: S/H (select an upper body)
Wed: S/H (select the other upper body)
Fri: S/H Legs
Sat: Cardio and Weights (this circuit works only upper body w/weights)

For Example Pyramids:

Mon: Pyramid Lower
Wed: Pyramid Upper
Fri: Boot Camp or High Step Challenge
Sun: Cardio and Weights (this circuit works only upper body w/weights)

Hope this helps





Namita
 
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