Reach a plateau in your weight loss efforts? It is time to turbo-charge your workouts. Tom Holland, M.S., an exercise physiologist in Darien, Connecticut suggests overloading your muscles to keep them guessing. During this change, work every muscle three or four days in a row. Perform each set with little rest in between.

This fast-paced circuit will eliminate your plateau in no time. Execute 8-12 reps of each exercise. Replicate the circuit three times. Rest for two minutes at the end of each circuit. Pick a dumbbell that will exhaustion your muscle by the 10th or 12th rep.

Pushups – Get on your hands and toes (or knees) on the floor. Hands flat on the ground shoulder-width apart. With fingers facing forward or slightly turned in, lower body toward the ground, elbows flared out just a little. Keep your abs tight and push up until arms are fully extended. Keep your head aligned with your spine. Do not bend from the waist and do not allow your lower back to sag.

Forward Lunges – Hands on your sides, stand with feet together. Step forward with right leg into a lunge. Focus on dropping hips toward the ground rather than driving hips forward. With back straight, lower body to a comfortable position, until front thigh is parallel to the ground. Firmly push off with your front leg to return to start. Switch legs and repeat. 8 to 12 repetitions per leg.

Chest Press on stability ball — Sit on a stability ball. Grab a pair of dumbbells and walk feet forward until your head and shoulders lie on the ball. Keep your feet flat on the floor with your knees bent at 90 degrees. Squeeze your glutes and abs tightly throughout the exercise to stabilize your body. With your palms facing forward, bring the dumbbells around chest level. Drive weights up over chest, and lower back to start position.

Squats with dumbbells – Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Face toes forward or slightly outward. Carry a pair of heavy dumbbells on each hand with your arms hanging straight down. Drop hips toward the ground rather than pushing hips forward. Bend knees until thighs are parallel to the floor. Keep your back straight at roughly 45 degrees from your hips. Look straight ahead or upwards at roughly 45 degrees. Stretch out legs to standing position and repeat.

Upright rows — Position left knee and left hand on a workout bench or a large chair so that back is parallel to the floor. Keep head aligned with your spine. With right hand, lift the dumbbell straight up to torso level, keeping the elbow in and pointing it slightly towards the ceiling. Feel the back muscle contract. Hold for 1 second and slowly lower the weight to a dead hanging position. Repeat, then switch to the other arm after 8-12 reps.

Crunches on stability ball — Sit on a ball then walk your feet forward until the arch of your back rests on the ball. Place your hands on your chest or behind your ears while you tighten abs. Exhale and gradually raise your shoulders towards the ceiling. Lower shoulders, inhale and repeat. Do 15-20 reps.

Lunges with curls and shoulder press – Hold a pair of dumbbells on each hand palms facing forward. Step forward with your right leg into a lunge. See instructions above on proper lunges. Keep elbows to your sides while you curl the dumbbells to your chest as you dip. As you rise, turn wrists so that palms face forward, push the dumbbells overhead and return to the standing position. Bring feet together and lower arms. Repeat, stepping with left foot forward. 8-12 repetitions per leg.

Combine any of the following to pep up your circuit:

1) Add plyometric drills immediately after an exercise that works the same muscle group. Example, after a set of squats, do 10 squat jumps. Start in the squat position, jump up and extend your arms overhead. Land softly with knees bent and arms swinging behind you.

2) Combine cardio and strength routines by adding 30 seconds of intense cardio, such as jumping rope or high knee lifts between sets of weighted exercises. This burns a higher percentage of calories from fat. If you do less intense cardio, such as jogging in place, go for at least a minute.

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