Yesterday and today I did some circuit workouts at the gym. I’ve been focusing a lot on running the past few months and feel like I’ve been neglecting strength training. I know how important it is so I’m making an effort to do more of it.
Boy oh boy was I a sweaty mess after both circuit workouts. Even though I was a dripping mess I’m so glad I did them because I felt great afterwards. I roughly based these off the model of Julie’s 100 Circuit but made some modifications. I didn’t think I could do 100 of anything at one time because I’d get bored. Instead I split them in half and repeated the circuit twice. I started each workout with a 20 minute warm up. You can choose anything you want but I choose a 20 minute elliptical warm up one day and then a 20 minute incline speed walking on the treadmill the other day. I like to mix it up because if I do too much of the same cardio at the gym I get really bored and my workouts aren’t as good.
For the record me and leg lifts are not friends. Those suckers were hard!
Leg Circuit (Monday) – Repeat this list twice
- 50 Jumping Jacks
- 45 Crunches
- 40 Squats
- 35 Leg Lifts
- 30 Jumping Jacks
- 25 Crunches
- 20 Squats
- 15 Leg Lifts
- 10 Jumping Jacks
- 5 Minute Run on Treadmill
Arm Circuit – Repeat this list twice
- 50 Jumping Jacks
- 45 Crunches
- 40 Bicep Curls *
- 35 Dead lifts*
- 30 Dumbbell Overhead Triceps Extension*
- 25 Jumping Jacks
- 20 Crunches
- 15 Bicep Curls *
- 10 Dead lifts*
- 5 Minutes on the Stair Climber (or stair master)
I used 10 lb dumbbells for the ones with asterisk. For the weights I would suggest you use what you normally would or go a little heavier to push yourself.
Both these workouts were awesome and have motivated me to try more circuit training. I’ve been forcing myself to wake up at 5am to go to the gym this week because I love having it done in the morning. The gym is not crowded at that time and It makes me feel better all day. I use to do it for nearly 2 years straight and fell off the morning workout bandwagon and have found its WAY harder to wake up now. But I know I can get back in the habit if I keep doing it and then it will be a piece of cake again. I mean – as easy as getting up at 5am can be. Lets hope my relationship with my alarm clock gets a little better. 
