exercise

Every year the same thing happens to nearly all of us.  The weather starts changing, the holidays start approaching and the comforts of great food and warm beverages and sitting in front of the game all coalesce into winter weight and fatigue.  What is interesting about this phenomenon is that is traces back to our ancestors...not the obsessive football watching on the big screen, but the hibernation-oriented winter seasons.  The difference now is that life's stressors and requirements are much different now for us than they were for them then. 

For all intents and purposes our lives continue on in a very similar manner with responsibilities at work, at home and to others.  We continue to have very similar, if not greater health stressors due to the cold and flu season, during this season of the year.  However, this is when most of us neglect our fitness and our health.  We generally tend to workout less or not at all, we increase our caloric intake dramatically and we become more sedentary. 

If your friend were to tell you that he just completed a circuit training workout that left him totally worked, would you wonder “what’s next…step class?...or some intense yoga?”

Many people don’t recognize the great benefits circuit training can provide everyone.  It isn’t just a general workout, but a highly efficient way to reach your fitness goals whatever they may be.

So…what is circuit training?

Circuit training is a combination of high-intensity aerobics and resistance training with minimal breaks between exercises.  You keep moving the entire time during and between the exercises. It targets fat loss, muscle building, and heart fitness and can be easily adapted to any fitness goal you may have.  For those seeking muscle building, you are likely more familiar with doing sets with increased weight over time.  Circuit training, on the other hand, works because it forces you to keep pushing your body aerobically, while still challenging your strength.

The Common Misconception

Many men associate circuit training with fat burning, cardio workouts.  And yes, with low resistance and no rest periods, this is a great way to burn fat and tone muscle.

I fight it all the time: the urge to curl up on the couch with a delectable snack...mmmmm...But wait!  Won’t I feel better, look better, be happier, and be better able to rationalize curling up on the couch if I just do my workout?  Begrudgingly, yes I would.

No matter how it is hard for you (or me) to get moving, the benefits are outstanding and well worth it.  So before you push your workout off to tomorrow, read and remember these five ways to stay motivated:

Determine an attainable goal and plan to reach that goal.  The first thing to ask yourself is what your goals are and why do you want to reach them.  Do you want to lose weight, sleep better, increase your energy, gain strength, add flexibility, or just feel a heightened since of well being?  Once you know your goal, create a realistic workout schedule (like exercising twice on weekdays and once on weekends) that will set you up for success.

Change into your workout clothes. Sometimes, it's just a matter of getting dressed that causes the biggest barrier.

Lose the Excuses.  Erase the concept that if you can't do at least 30 minutes you're wasting your time.  Exercise burns calories, increases energy, and improves your health - even in small doses.  So before you skip your workout, try these ideas to get moving: