Circuit training vs split workouts?

[AngelinaMarie]

Hi all,

I'm Angie. This is my first time posting & I'm still very new to bodybuilding so please excuse my naivet? if this is a silly/obvious question, but I was wondering if anyone can help me out. I've been yoyo dieting my whole life & only recently started lifting weights & switching my meals up to 6 a day etc. I started with circuit training mon, wed, fri, with 20 mins of cardio tues, thurs, & Sat (ala the ABS diet by David Zinczenko) which got me pretty far, then moved on to the upper/lower body split & 12,10, 8, 6, 12 program the Body for Life program recommends. I've lost 15lbs in about 2 months and am very excited about changing my whole lifestyle but my current issue is that I'm moving to CA in 6 weeks. Like many people do, I cheated a bit more than I should have over the New Year's holiday & have regained a bit of my pudge. My question is this.

My oxygen mag recommends a circuit training routine that promises results in about 7 weeks, fitness model Jennifer Nicole Lee also recommends a similar circuit workout in her bikini bootcampt series (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/sexy...it_workout.htm)
However, she also has written up a a program based on the fitness model training she recommends (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/fitn...l_training.htm)

Can anyone help me decide which program I should follow to help me lean out as much as possible before my move? I'm going for the fitness model look (though I know 6 weeks is not a long enough time to see ridiculously drastic results & I of course intend on continuing my workouts & eating plans after the relocation & even after I reach my goal). As well as how much cardio I should be doing? I'm so confused because I've heard anywhere from 20 mins every other day to 1 hr every day before breakfast with varying explanations on how this is good for fat burning or bad because it eats muscle.

I appreciate all the support & help I've gotten so far & thank anyone who responds. I can't believe I've been lucky enough to find this site & all of you wonderful people :-)

[wyrepyre]

To be perfectly honest, there are about a million things any one of us could tell you...you already have at least some of your answers in what you have posted...why don't you just pick one of J. Nicole Lee's routines and try it for a few weeks...then switch it up...the whole story is mostly about keeping your body away from the familiar...you ever hear the old adage about the civilization that does not sit atop a razor's edge? well it's doomed to fail...the same is true of our bodies...keep working hard and researching, and you will be rewarded...good luck!

[Nick1971]

I think circuit training is fine, and I did that a long time ago and found it enjoyable. That said, here are my recommendations. Whatever routine you pick, you might want to do cardio after the exercise. I find that for me, personally, I take advantage of the elevated heart rate from the weight training, and have to exert less energy during the cardio to keep the heartrate high enough to benefit from it. I do no more than 20 minutes of post-weight-training cardio, as I get bored easily. But it's helped.

I think you're in a good position to make positive gains - just stick with whatever you decide on. Too many people give up, and that's worse than doing a routine that's not the most optimal out there.