When you’re in a rush or you have limited time to hit the gym, circuit training is a great tool to burn fat and get your heart working fast in just minutes.
In circuit training, resistance and aerobic training are combined into one workout to increase heart rate and keep it at a training level for the duration of the exercise session. The results are improved cardiovascular and muscular endurance along with functional strength and fat loss.
This three-circuit workout designed by Mike Strevel, C.P.T., is an adaptation of one of the Shredded classes Strevel teaches at David Barton Gym in New York. Power through this full-body workout to build muscle and burn fat in just 45 minutes.
Directions
Do each exercise without rest, moving to the next exercise without stopping. After each complete circuit, rest for 1-2 minutes. Complete 2-4 rounds of each circuit—enough to be challenging, without overtaxing your system. Remember, use relatively light weights for each exercise, because those reps add up.
And even though a traditional circuit calls for zero rest between exercises, alwaysset up with proper form for each exercise, and make sure you’re executing each motion correctly. Barbell-centric power movements like the squat and Romanian deadlift require special attention to form, so make sure you’re taking the necessary time to do each rep perfectly.
