I don’t mean stop exercising. I mean exercise differently and get off your plateau. As creatures of habit it is all too easy to get into a routine at the gym and continue to do the same kind of workouts over and over again and still think that because you are making it to the gym then that is enough. I’m guilty of this myself especially since I train other people but no one is there to kick my own butt. So every few weeks I reassess how hard I’m actually working and then kick it up a notch. But I also pay attention to how my workout makes me feel afterward. If I’m overly sore and my energy level is low than I know it’s time
to give my body more recovery time.
If you find that you are losing interest in your workouts, they are no longer challenging and you are not seeing anymore results than it’s time to change it up.
There are many ways to vary your method of exercising. Try adding a bit more weight and doing less reps. If you are used to using a barbell, try free weights or do an entire workout with a resistance band. Incorporate declines and inclines. Run up and down a hill instead of always staying on the flat trail. Try some plyometric exercises. Rev up your cardio by doing timed intervals. If you go on vacation try walking, running and doing lunges in the sand. You will have to engage a lot more of your muscles for this kind of workout. Try exercising on a Bosu, stability ball or balance disc to improve your overall balance and work the stabilizer muscles. Try a class if you are always used to being in the gym. Consider doing a few sessions with a trainer to learn some new ways of doing things and keep you tuned into your form.
Keep it fun and fresh so you can stay motivated toward your goals. Just remember to listen to your body and give yourself time for active recovery. Have a great week of exercise 🙂