Question on Circuit Workouts

[Shelbygirl]

Where is the best place in a rotation to put circuit workouts such as Cardio & Weights or S,J&P, for example? I just love circuits, but in another post it was mentioned that if your goals are strength oriented, you shouldn't do a circuit workout either before or after a strength workout. (Building and maintaining muscle mass is an ongoing goal of mine; I love big biceps!). So, do I always need to surround circuit workouts with cardio? Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Shelbygirl

 

[kathryn]

I'd say put either a cardio, a stretch or an off day on both sides of a circuit workout. I kind of think of circuit workouts as light, full-body weight workouts + cardio. You might do heavy weights for the upper body on Monday, Heavy lower body on Wednesday, and a circuit workout on Friday or Saturday. Fill in the other days with cardio, rest or stretch.

If you're in a stage where you have the muscle mass you like and you just want to lose some fat or get more cut, you could do a rotation (maybe 2 weeks) where you do a circuit workout 3 times a week (every other day), alternating with cardio, rest, stretch.