If you are planning on getting into better shape, then many questions may come to mind. Should you dive into cardio exercise by going for a swim? Should you grab some dumbbells and do some strength training? Or, should you mix it up and try circuit training? Learning more about cardio, strength and circuit training may help you decide which one is the best type of exercise for you.
Cardio Exercise
Cardio exercises are any types of workouts that raise and maintain the heart rate over a certain amount of time. Popular cardio exercises include jogging, swimming, biking and jumping rope. There are numerous benefits to performing frequent cardio exercises. Cardio training strengthens the heart and lungs, reduces anxiety, improves digestion, increases immunity and increases the metabolic rate. Cardio training also burns a lot of calories. For example, according to Civista Health, a 150-pound person who jogs for an hour can burn more than 700 calories. However, cardio exercises are not good for building muscle.
Strength Exercise
In order to build muscle, it is necessary to perform strength exercises. Strength exercises are often done with weights, but some exercises can be done without weights. Push-ups and squats are examples of a strength exercise that do not require weights. Biceps curls, bench presses and shoulder presses do require weights. All muscle groups should be worked on a weekly basis to get the most out of strength training. In addition to building muscle, strength exercises also prevent muscle loss, increase the metabolism, reduce resting blood pressure and reduce body fat.
Circuit Training
Circuit training is a series of exercises that are performed with little or no rest in between them. The circuit could include cardio exercises, strength exercises or both. A popular method of circuit training in gyms is to have clients go from one machine to the next, working from larger muscles to smaller muscles. Circuit training benefits both the muscles and the cardiovascular system. Including strength training in a circuit can strengthen and tone muscles. Circuits are also a good cardio workout because the minimal rest between exercises keeps to heart rate up.
Which is the Best?
According to Fitness Magazine, circuit training can burn 30 percent more calories than a typical weight workout. The magazine also states that a circuit that combines strength training and cardio can burn 10 calories per minute. It is apparent that circuit training is the best option to improve overall health. However, for fitness enthusiasts who have specific goals, cardio or strength training may be better options. For example, a marathon runner would need to focus more on cardio, and a bodybuilder would need to focus more on strength training. Another benefit of circuit training for the average health-conscious person is that circuit training does not require as much time as other regimens.
Considerations
Circuit training tends to be a more fun workout than other types of exercise. The frequent change in circuit stations keeps the workouts interesting. However, circuit training may require more of a financial investment than other types of training. The access to gym equipment and to the knowledge of a personal trainer increases the likelihood of success with circuit training. An adequate circuit may be difficult to set up at home.
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