Circuit Training vs. Strength Training

The good news is there are many different options for fitness training. You can choose from in person classes, to online programs or you can make your own DIY training plan. But this is also the bad news. With all the different options to choose from how do you know where to start? Which option will work the best for you?

Your workouts should match your personal fitness goals. I’ll use myself as an example. I have two reasons that I strength train. 1) to build & maintain strength as I age. 2) to build & maintain bone density & brain health. I get my cardio on the bike, so I treat my gym time as pure strength training. Trying to do both cardio and strength at once usually leads to diminishing returns in both areas.

So what is the difference between circuit training and strength training? Here’s what Google answers (and I agree 100%): “Strength training focuses on building muscle and maximizing strength using heavy weights with long rest periods, while circuit training combines strength and cardio by moving quickly between exercises with minimal rest, making it superior for time-efficiency and cardiovascular endurance. Both improve fitness, but strength training is better for hypertrophy and bone density, while circuits are ideal for fat loss”.

If I match my personal fitness goal of building strength and bone density, then I need to make sure I’m strength training with heavy weights and long rest periods. Lifting less and going from exercise to exercise will jeopardize my goal.

Once you know your fitness goals, then you can choose the class, program, etc. accordingly and have confidence that you are on your way to fitness success.