A lot of people are confused when it comes to circuit training and High Intensity Interval Training or HIIT, with a lot of them thinking that they’re the same. It’s easy to see why there is this confusion. They basically share the same theory of using intervals between exercises.
In order to know the difference and how the two can be inter-related, it’s important to clearly-define them first. This is to help give you an idea of which one is which.
Circuit Training
Circuit training 
is basically a set of resistance and aerobic exercises that you do to complete a circuit. Each exercise is called a “station” and as such, you stop at each station to perform the exercise. After doing the exercise, there is an interval of ideally between 10 to 20 seconds wherein you jog or walk fast to maintain the pace. For beginners, you can walk quickly between stations so you can catch your breath. But it’s important that you keep moving to maintain the intensity.
One of the best things about this program is you can do a full body workout. For example, you can perform push ups and pull ups for your upper body, go to the next station, followed by crunches to improve your core muscle groups. Briskly walk to the next station. Perform squat jumps to develop your lower body. A good circuit training workout should develop your whole body and may also include total body workouts such as burpees.
High Intensity Interval Training
HIIT is simply performing high intensity exercises while performing medium intensity workouts in between. You don’t need a complete circuit to perform HIIT. It may just be a couple of exercises which may focus on just one or two areas of the whole body. The good thing is you can incorporate HIIT in just about any workout.
Let’s take running for example. You need to perform high intensity sprints for as long as you can and instead of stopping to rest, you jog or walk briskly until it is time to sprint again. Ideally, the rest in between high intensity levels should be around 50% of the length of the high intensity exercise.
Is High Intensity Interval Training a Part of Circuit Training?
Circuit training also probably involves aerobic exercises. This is why HIIT is usually added to the workout. For example, a program can incorporate HIIT into the shuttle run exercise. You can also set aside a treadmill station wherein you can perform HIIT sprints.
Circuit Training For Fat Loss
So really, you don’t need to choose between the two. Circuit training is the application of high intensity interval training. You can get the best of both worlds by joining a fitness bootcamp that offers circuit training with HIIT principles.
High Intensity Interval Training-Cardio Sprint
i’m not sure i could handle both, but if i can join a fitness bootcamp that offers circuit training with HIIT principles that sounds do-able!
circuit training is by far what’s worked best for me, but I was wondering if there’s any particular order of exercise that helps, ie core first, then upper body, then aerobics. i’m always looking to maximize what i get out of my workouts, so aerobics almost always ends up going last but i’m not sure about the best way to order everything else
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