Vary your Exercise Routine with This Fast Paced Circuit

Are you at a plateau in your fitness efforts? It is time to rev-up your workouts. An exercise physiologist in Darien, Connecticut, Tom Holland, M.S. suggests that you keep your muscles guessing by stressing your muscles now and then. During this period, work every muscle three to four days in a row. Perform each set with little or no rest in between.

Try this fast paced circuit. Complete 8 to 12 reps of each exercise while going from one exercise to the next with little or no rest. Repeat the entire circuit three times, resting for two minutes at the end of each circuit. Choose a dumbbell that will fatigue your muscle by the 10th or 12th rep.

Pushups – Get on your hands and knees (or toes). Tighten abs, hands flat on the ground shoulder-width apart. With fingers facing forward or slightly turned in, slowly lower body toward the ground, elbows flared out just a little. Push up until arms are fully stretched. During the entire exercise, keep your head aligned with your spine. Do not allow your lower back to sag and do not bend from the waist.

Lunges — Stand with hands to your sides and feet together. Step forward with one leg into a lunge. Focus on bringing hips downward rather than pushing them forward, abs tight and your back straight. Lower your body until the front thigh is parallel to the ground. Firmly push off with the other leg and return to starting position. Switch legs and repeat. 8-12 more per leg.

Chest Press on a Swiss ball — Sit on a Swiss ball. Grab a pair of dumbbells on each hand. Walk feet forward until head and shoulders rest on the ball. Keep feet flat on the floor, knees bent 90 degrees. Squeeze glutes and abs tightly throughout the set to stabilize the body. Palms facing forward, bring dumbbells around chest level. Push weights up over chest, and lower to start position.

Squats – Stand with feet shoulder-width apart toes facing forward or slightly out. Hold a pair of heavy dumbbells on each hand. Arms hang straight down. Sink hips toward the ground rather than pushing hips forward and bend knees until thighs are parallel to the floor. Back should be straight at roughly 45 degrees from hips. Eyes looking straight ahead. Extend legs and straighten up to standing position.

Dumbbell rows – Position right knee and right hand on a workout bench (a large chair can substitute nicely) so that back is parallel to the floor, keep head aligned with your spine. With left hand, lift the dumbbell straight up to torso level, keeping your elbow in and pointing slightly toward the ceiling. Feel your back muscle contract. Hold for 1 second. Slowly lower the weight to a dead hanging position and repeat. Switch sides between sets.

Crunches on Ball — Sit on a Swiss ball and slowly lean back and roll on the ball until the curve of your back lies on the ball. Place hands behind your ears. Tighten abs as you exhale and slowly raise head and shoulders toward the ceiling. Lower shoulders and repeat. Do 15-20 reps.

Lunges, shoulder press and dumbbell curls – With palms facing forward step forward with one leg into a lunge. Follow the instructions above on correct lunge technique. As you drop down, curl the dumbbells to your chest while elbows are glued to your sides. Turn wrists so that palms face forward then push the dumbbells overhead as you return to the starting position. Bring feet together and lower your arms. Repeat, stepping with the other foot forward. 8-12 repetitions per leg.

Mix any of the following exercises to spice up your circuit:

1) Add plyometric drills immediately after an exercise that works the same muscle group. Example, after a set of squats, do 10 squat jumps. Start in the squat position, jump up and extend your arms overhead. Land softly with knees bent and arms swinging behind you.

2) Combine cardio and strength routines by adding 30 seconds of intense cardio, such as jumping rope or high knee lifts between sets of weighted exercises. This burns a higher percentage of calories from fat. If you do less intense cardio, such as jogging in place, go for at least a minute.

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