Gym seshes getting seriously boring? Not seeing changes in your body anymore? Then it may just be time to switch things up. Here’s how often you should change your workout routine to score the best results. Plus: three fun ways to do it.
Stuck in a rut?
Feeling tired of your workout could actually be a positive sign you’ve mastered it. An easy way to get out of the rut? Add variety – boot camp one day, kick-boxing the next, then yoga. “This shakes up your mind and body because you’re training the heart, muscles and brain in different ways by doing different things,” says Dr Judith Juvancic-Heltzel, an associate professor of sports science and wellness.
READ MORE: 10 Best Warm-Up Exercises To Help You Make The Most Of Every Workout
Find your sweet spot
The sweet time for mixing it up: every two weeks. A study from the University of Florida in the US found people who changed their workouts this often enjoyed them 20 percent more – and were 15 percent more likely to stick with them – than those who followed unvarying sessions. If you want to do the same daily exercise, like running, try new routes or add some sprints to your sesh. Or do the following to beat workout blahs:
READ MORE: 4 Ways To Up The Intensity Of Any Cardio Workout
Beat the workout blahs like this…
1. Try a new spin on an old fave. “If you always do mat Pilates, try a reformer class,” says PT Idalis Velazquez.
2. Sign up for something. A race. A yoga retreat. A team. You’ll stay active, learn new skills and add a fun factor.
3. Find your sweat sister. It helps to max your motivation, makes you accountable and it boosts your social life.
READ MORE: How To Choose The Best Type Of Resistance Band For Your Workout
Warning!
When any workout seems tedious, rethink your motivation. It’s better to focus on how a sweat sesh makes you feel rather than how it makes you look. A single workout can slay stress; but it takes longer to see visibly sculpted thighs.
