Circuit Training instead of Running

O.P.H

For the past few weeks I've been running evey second day and doing weights on every other day. I'm looking to gain muscle and lose belly fat. Not seeing great results on the losing belly fat area so I'm going to start circuit training instead of running, I hear its the best way to lose a belly.

I found this sample circuit training session, can anyone tell my if its any good for what im looking for and also what are the best intervals to take in between each excerise and set, and any other helpful info, never done circuit training before Thanks.

Suggested Circuit

Number of circuits: 3 times through - this means no stopping for breath!
Reps per exercise for each circuit: 12, 10, 12


1. Press-ups
2. Half-sits
3. Tuck jumps
4. Clap press-ups
5. Sit-ups with twist
6. Squat thrusts
7. Dips
8. Crunches
9. Bench Step-ups or Burpees (mandatory in Running Beast)
10. Close arm press-ups
11. Dorsal raises
12. Star jumps

Dubdude

How about doing weights 1st and cardio after weight training

Colm_OReilly

I'd do CrossFit (but then I'm biased)

Pick a workout you like from crossfit.com or crossfit.ie (you can scroll down the comments to get an idea of how long they take).

I guarantee you'll see results from these workouts, plus they're fun and challenging.

delllat

O.P.H wrote: »

For the past few weeks I've been running evey second day and doing weights on every other day. I'm looking to gain muscle and lose belly fat. Not seeing great results on the losing belly fat area so I'm going to start circuit training instead of running, I hear its the best way to lose a belly.

I found this sample circuit training session, can anyone tell my if its any good for what im looking for and also what are the best intervals to take in between each excerise and set, and any other helpful info, never done circuit training before Thanks.

Suggested Circuit

Number of circuits: 3 times through - this means no stopping for breath!
Reps per exercise for each circuit: 12, 10, 12


1. Press-ups
2. Half-sits
3. Tuck jumps
4. Clap press-ups
5. Sit-ups with twist
6. Squat thrusts
7. Dips
8. Crunches
9. Bench Step-ups or Burpees (mandatory in Running Beast)
10. Close arm press-ups
11. Dorsal raises
12. Star jumps

that circuit looks fine-plenty of challenging exercises in there
if 3xcircuits gets too easy then do 4xcircuits or record times and aim for a faster timme every round

Khannie

Surprised nobody's asked: What's your diet like? That's where your belly battle's going to be won or lost.

It's very very difficult to gain muscle and lost fat at the same time. I'd suggest aiming to lose the fat first, then try to gain muscle after.

Mhmm...weetabix

O.P.H wrote: »

For the past few weeks I've been running evey second day and doing weights on every other day. I'm looking to gain muscle and lose belly fat. Not seeing great results on the losing belly fat area so I'm going to start circuit training instead of running, I hear its the best way to lose a belly.

I found this sample circuit training session, can anyone tell my if its any good for what im looking for and also what are the best intervals to take in between each excerise and set, and any other helpful info, never done circuit training before Thanks.

Suggested Circuit

Number of circuits: 3 times through - this means no stopping for breath!
Reps per exercise for each circuit: 12, 10, 12


1. Press-ups
2. Half-sits
3. Tuck jumps
4. Clap press-ups
5. Sit-ups with twist
6. Squat thrusts
7. Dips
8. Crunches
9. Bench Step-ups or Burpees (mandatory in Running Beast)
10. Close arm press-ups
11. Dorsal raises
12. Star jumps

O.P.H,
Whats the breakdown of your current routine and you haven't mentioned anything on diet? If you're eating badly it'll take alot longer to get any results.

yop

well if its any consolation I started doing circuits with my club on a Friday nite and at a leisure club on a Saturday morning and since I started doing them I have shifted about 1.5 inches off waist and over 2.5" off my gut in about 5 weeks.

Now in saying that I also do astro twice a week, a match on a Sunday and Aqua (for soccer club so dont laugh!! ) once a week. But I do find the biggest burn when I am doing circuits.
I could literally eat a small child when I have finished them.

The circuits would be similar to your and each class is 1 hour long.
10 min warm up including running around the hall, stretching and sprinting to get the heart working.
The friday nite class with the club includes a 1min, 45 sec, 35 sec, 30 sec station and has 10 stations with about 5 or 6 seconds between stations and a 1 minute rest in between "rounds". Its does not include any free weights or sprints.

The Saturday class includes weights ever second station and has a 45 sec, 35 sec, 2 * 20 sec stations. With 1 minute rest between the 1st, 2nd and 3rd rounds but none between the 3rd and 4th.
It also includes weighted lunges, curls, squats, shoulder press and 5m sprints.

One other thing which I think helps is quantity of food, DONT eat until you feel full, let your stomach shrink with smaller amounts of food.

Good luck with it..

unregged.

Stats? Whats your weight and height?

O.P.H

Holy, Marry, Mother a God! I did that circuit training last night. I always thought I was reasonably fit but when I was comin close to ending the second time through I just had to stop, curl up in a ball on the floor and hope I didnt get sick. But I love it, that just means its a damn good session and in time my body will get used to it. As for being better for burnin fat than runnin, my heart rate was much much faster than durin a run and I sweated a bucket load, gonna stick with it.