Start working on your beach body now

It finally seems like spring is here. Winter hung around a little longer than usual, but it's now finally time to start swapping out your winter duds for your warmer weather T's and shorts. It also means that if you want your body to be ready for summer, you better kick your workout into overdrive -- because, believe it or not, Memorial Day is only six weeks away!!

Very few workouts burn fat and build lean muscle as fast and as effectively than resistance training circuits. By combining several weight training exercises, with little to no rest in between sets, you get both the muscle-building and cardiovascular benefits all rolled into one.

Men's Health recently published a number of great resistance training workouts in their U.K. edition (which is basically the same as the U.S. version, only they confuse the hell out of me by using the metric system when referring to calories, portion size, and the weight of dumbbells). The best part about the following circuit routine is that you only need a basic set of dumbbells to do it.

WARM UP - Perform a cardio routine of any kind (walking, elliptical machine, rowing machine, etc.) for a slow to moderate pace for five to ten minutes. Then, jump right into these exercises ...

SPLIT SQUAT JUMP - Perform 15 reps on each leg, holding the dumbbells by your sides.

SQUAT TO CURL PRESS - Perform 20 reps, starting with the weights by your side and ending with them pressed over your head.

PISTON PRESS - Perform 10 reps on each arm while lying on a bench.

BENT-OVER LATER RAISES - Perform 12 reps.

DUMBBELL POWER CLEAN - Perform 15 reps, starting with the dumbbells hanging by your side, then being lowered to your feet, and then quickly being raised to chin level.

BICEP CURLS - Perform 20 reps total (10 for each arm)

RUSSIAN TWIST - Perform 15 reps (twist to the left and then twist to the right = 1 full rep)

REVERSE CRUNCHES - Perform 20 reps without using the dumbbells at all

If you are relatively new to working out, try to make your way through this circuit one time. If, however, you're a more seasoned exerciser, go for two or three times through. In either case, rest a maximum of 45 seconds in between exercises. As you progress, try cutting that break time down to really ramp up the cardio.

Lastly, I did my best to track down some video demonstrations of each exercise. Click on the exercise names above to be linked to those videos.

Best of luck!! Feel free to let us know how you did with this workout!!!