Interval Training Versus Circuit Training – What’s The Difference?
Two types of workouts that offer a number of positive health benefits but unfortunately two that most people often get confused over are interval training styles versus circuit training styles. While they definitely do have their similarities, they are also very different at the same rate, so understanding the differences between these two fat burning workouts is critical.
Let’s have a look so you can get this figured out properly.
Interval Training
When it comes to interval training, most people using this word are referring to a strictly cardio variety of training. During this workout you’ll be performing some mode of traditional cardio – from running to cycling to rowing. Whatever you enjoy, you can use this to complete this fat burning workout.
What you’ll be doing is alternating between periods of very intense, all-out bouts of exercise performed for a short duration in time – say 30-60 seconds along with ‘rest’ periods of exercise where you workout at a much lower intensity for usually twice as long.
You repeat this set-up 6-10 times total to finish off the workout and then add in your warm-up and cool-down as well.
The benefit to interval training is that it cuts the traditional boredom that’s felt with cardio workouts and will help you maintain a much higher rate of fat loss than before. If you want to get lean, this is a great cardio workout to perform.
Circuit Training
Next you have your circuit training. The difference here is that most people who refer to this form of workout are referring to one where traditional strength based moves are performed. So you may include exercises such as push-ups, lunges, squats, chest presses, shoulder presses, bicep curls, and so on.
You’ll perform one set of these exercises immediately after each other until the entire round has been completed. The advantage to this style of workout is that it will speed up your traditional strength based workouts and usually makes things a little more interesting.
Many people who are strictly looking for fat burning also find these very effective and notice they see the best results from doing them two to three times per week.
Which Is Superior?
When it comes to which is superior, it’s a hard call and it all depends on what specifically your goals are.
If you want to work on getting in the best cardiovascular fitness shape of your life, interval training will be superior.
If you want more strengthening benefits however, then the circuit training is the better approach. Also keep in mind that you certainly can perform both types of fat burning workouts within a single week if your plan calls for it and you have enough of a recovery capacity. Always do monitor how you feel on a day to day basis however as since both types are more intense, the chances of overtraining are a bit higher.
So there you have the basic information on the difference between these two workout types.
Do you prefer one over the other?
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