Many Australians are discovering the many benefits that a well-designed circuit training workout can provide. It is a great way to develop cardiovascular endurance, strengthen the muscles, and have fun all at the same time.
However, preparation for circuit training is crucial because of the intense exercises you will perform in a short span of time. Here’s how to do it.
Always Get the Advice of Your Doctor
Circuit training is not for everyone. You will be taxing your heart in more ways than conventional exercises do. If you have a pre-existing heart condition, the high-intensity nature of circuit training can put an unnecessary burden on your cardiovascular system.
The same is true for people with joint problems. While you can choose the exercises to include in your routine, it would still be best to seek the advice of your healthcare professional.
He can tell you what exercises will be good for your joints and which ones can compromise the already-weakened state of your articulations.
Choose the Exercises to Include in Your Circuit Training
The whole idea about circuit training is to perform as many exercises as possible in one go. There are no rest periods in between exercises.
You move from one workout station to the next as if the workstations are in a circuit. That is why one has to be ready with the different exercises to include in the programme.
Pick a variety of moves that will allow you to keep the intensity of the exercises at a steady pace. You do not want to include exercises of varying intensity.
The first few exercises can already deplete you of your energy reserves. You may no longer have energy left to complete the other exercises.
Load Up on Carbohydrates
Some people prefer to load up on proteins before they work out. This is fine. However, the body will not be able to process the protein and convert it into energy fast enough than it can with carbohydrates.
Carbs can provide you with more readily-available energy. This will help you finish your circuit. Eating simple carbohydrates may seem counterintuitive. Simple sugars can produce glucose and insulin spikes.
However, this is what you will need to carry out the different exercises in your circuit training. You can always consume complex carbohydrates and high-quality proteins after the workout.
Warm Up
One can never underestimate the importance of warm-up exercises in performing any workout. This becomes more crucial when undergoing circuit training. The different exercises that you will have to complete without any rests in between will put your muscles and joints to the test.
Warming up for a good 5 minutes should help you prepare for the onslaught on your body. Jumping jacks and jogging in place should help prime those joints and muscles of yours. They will be more than ready when you hit your first exercise of the workout.
Circuit training can be a very challenging workout to pull off. One has to have the determination and single-minded focus to complete the programme. Preparing yourself for the regimen can also help you accomplish what you have set out to do.
