Fitness at Home- The best bang for your time? Circuit Training

I made a mini home gym at home. Nothing fancy about it at all. I will add a picture of it to this post later on, but for now, I want to share my newest circuit routine that I love, since it works the entire body in 40 minutes or less!

Circuit Training Benefits via fitday.com


Due to the lack of rest that circuit training demands, exercisers maintain elevated heart rates for the entire period of exercise. The combination of weight training and increased cardiovascular effort makes circuit training a beneficial type of cross training. The exerciser gains muscle through the resistance training. The exerciser increases his/her cardiovascular endurance during the slightly elevated heart rate that is maintained in between sets and throughout the overall program. The exerciser burns high amounts of calories during the high exertion periods of his/her sets.

Circuit training is also a convenient way to exercise. It maximizes the total exercise volume (number of sets, repetitions, and amount of weight) completed in a period of time. Exercises are completed in a row, and therefore, the time spent exercising is condensed. Separate cardiovascular training is not necessary. All body parts are trained in one session, and therefore, exercisers do not need to work out everyday.

MY current routine:


Start: Put the fans on you, get some good loud music with a fast  beat and ice water.

3 minutes of RUNNING on the treadmill
20 lunges with 10 lb weights in each hand each leg
20 squats with 10 lb weights in each hand
20 side crunches with 10 lb weight in both hands-
20 regular crunches with legs up and 10 lb weight
Resistance band- arms 15 reps

REPEAT X 4.

Cool down with a 8 minute fast to slow walk...to finish up at 20 minutes on treadmill.


Why is this a good workout?

In the end you have done a 20 minute cardio segment, 160 lunges, 160 side crunches, 160 squats, 160 regular crunches, and 60 reps on your arms with resistance band ( triceps and biceps). A TOTAL body work-out for beautiful lean muscle and cardio weight loss all in one!

WIN! WIN!  now you can start your day right.