Taking a (rather long) hiatus from my list of myths, here’s a short article I wrote that appeared in our gym newsletter last week.
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.”
You are probably familiar, at least in part, with this quote by Albert Einstein. While Einstein is best known for his scientific achievements, most notably his development of theories of relativity and winning the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics, for most of us, it is simple statements like the one above that remain applicable in our day-to-day lives. For example, how are your workouts? And yes, I’m talking to you Mr. Trot-Along-At-Level-3-On-The-Elliptical-Machine and you Ms. Hundred-Daily-Curls-With-A-Three-Pound-Weight. Here are three signs you need a change
1. You’re bored — Your workout routine has become something you dread, yet you do it anyway simply because you know you “should.”
2. You are not seeing results — You work out with the goal of gaining muscle and/or losing fat, yet your body looks exactly the same as it did a year ago… or five, if not worse.
3. Your workout isn’t hard… at least not any more — The mile you run at a ten-minute pace every day doesn’t leave you sweating and breathing heavy like it used to do; yet you still run at your usual pace.
Any of these look familiar? Complacency is an easy rut. It just might be time to mix it up.
Believe it or not, our bodies are very efficient at adapting to the stimuli placed on them. This is why doing the same workout becomes easier over time. You also burn fewer calories once these adaptations have taken place. If your workout is no longer difficult, chance are you’re not going to see the results you desire.
How can you make these changes?
Work with a trainer. It’s not often that you find an individual with the personality traits required to push themselves further and harder as someone else can. A professional can provide new insight as to how you can attain your personal goals and will guide you to perform exercises you may not have considered on your own.
Switch from the elliptical to a treadmill, or a treadmill to running outside with the Colony Square Running Club. Consider changes in your terrain, your method of movement, your resistance or your speed. Make a point of rotating out of a familiar workout environment in favor of something different to add newness to your routine.
Increase the weight you lift. Change from barbell exercises to dumbbells or even to bodyweight exercises. Try out a TRX band and
incorporate balance to challenge yourself in new ways.
Finally, check out our group fitness schedule. In the month of May, we are adding several new classes, everything from Pilates to
jump rope that should help you to stay motivated and keep it fresh. Then you will start to see the results you’ve been working so hard for!
