Which workout is best for me?
How to choose when there are so many different options?
Whether you choose to exercise alone or with others, exercise is a good driver for a range of benefits for both your physical and mental health. Exercise discriminates against no one and can take place wherever you may be. Regardless of age and shape - there is a form of exercise that suits everyone.
Circuit Training
Circuit training is a form of exercise that is based on efficiency. You combine various exercises that usually start from strength training. The difference between traditional strength training and circuit training is that you only take a break after completing all the exercises in the circuit.
This form of training is often very intense and offers several benefits. The workout becomes more time-efficient as you go through more exercises in a short time. It can also be positive for your endurance if you choose exercises that activate large muscle groups and increase your heart rate.
It is a training method that can easily be adapted to individual needs and suits those who are short on time.
Strength Training
Strength training is one of the most common forms of exercise and something everyone can benefit from. As mentioned earlier about the difference between circuit training and strength training, you will take breaks after each exercise here. You will want to take extra time to complete the entire session as you lift heavier weights and must be more careful to do it correctly.
Like most forms of exercise, strength training comes with a variety of health benefits for almost the entire body.
With strength training, you most often have to follow a program so you don't overload your body in a certain way. The various programs you choose to follow range from 2 to 5 days a week. If you want to read more about strength training, you can check out our article on the best strength exercises for the whole body.
To be able to follow them without hindrance, it is best for each individual to have a clear idea of how much time they can allocate to it. So that it does not become a stress factor in your life.
Interval and HIIT
Interval training and HIIT are two forms of exercise that involve switching between intensities during the workout.
Within interval training, you vary between low to moderate intensity, allowing for greater variation and likely suitable for those who want to spend more time on their workout and have a higher training volume.
With HIIT, however, for it to be considered HIIT, you must be at maximum intensity when you switch up the intensity. In other words, you should be at 85-100 percent of your maximum heart rate.
The two training forms mentioned earlier in the article can be compared to these, where it can be said that HIIT suits those with a busier life who want to complete a workout quickly, while interval training is for those who want to take more time to perform the exercises.
Both training forms are, however, demanding and if you want to read more about them, you can take a look at the articles linked below.
- Interval training for beginners
- HIIT training for beginners
So which training form suits you best?
Here are four questions that will help guide you to the right training form for you. But remember, there is nothing stopping you from trying out the many different forms of exercise out there, and the one you didn't think would fit might just be the right one.
What is your goal with the training?
What do you want to achieve from your workouts? Typical goals can be: To become stronger? More flexible? Better endurance, or to lose weight? Rehabilitation, or simply to get a good night's sleep?
What do you wish to achieve with your training?
It may also be that what you want from training is to make use of dead time you sometimes have, to just be more active, or to get out more. You often end up having fun when you find the right form of exercise.
What do you dislike?
Think about things that you absolutely do not want to do, or cannot do. If you come up with something, then eliminate that form of exercise. Remember that sometimes you have to stretch your boundaries if it’s just something you’re not comfortable with.
Where do you want to train?
Consider places where you could perform these exercises, where would you feel most comfortable doing them? Often, you don't need equipment to exercise, especially if you're a beginner.
The most common places to train are:
- Gym has the advantage of providing a lot of equipment that you can benefit from, and it allows for increased variety and options.
- At home allows you the benefit of exercising whenever you want.
- Outdoors you may often face some disadvantages as you have to deal with the weather, but it’s great if you need some fresh air and wind in your hair.
Check out the articles below about how you can train in the park and at home.
- 10 strength exercises you can do in the park
- Training at the office and at home
- Yoga exercises at home
Do you want to train alone or with others?
Some people manage to motivate themselves, maintain motivation, and enjoy training alone. Others might find it more fun and easier to stay motivated when they work out or do something with others.
If you fall into the latter category, you can bring a friend, choose group training, or perhaps drag your partner along. Take a look at the article below which explains more about how to train together with others and the exercises you can do.
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