Have you started finding reasons to sleep in and not get up for your morning workout? Are you finding “better” things to do with your time? Before you know it you have steered off track for almost a week. Has your mentality to embrace physical activity and exercise somehow caught a flight to vacation station? Maybe you dig deep and try to rev up some motivation. Is it really a lack of motivation or is something else getting in the way of the excitement and effectiveness of your previously-rewarding workouts? Read below for signs that tell you… it’s time to change your workout routine!
1. Your workout is no longer challenging.
Jogging a 10-minute mile, for example, becomes easier and easier as time goes on. If your workouts aren't challenging you anymore, it can be helpful to monitor your intensity. You can do this by wearing a heart rate monitor. Your heart rate will change over time as you become more fit. By using a heart rate monitor, you'll know when to change up or intensify your routine. Challenging your body improves your overall fitness. A challenge also provides a great sense of accomplishment. They enable you to become stronger and empower you to work toward your goals.
2. Your workout bores you.
You used to like walking on the treadmill, so why do you dread it each day? It's easy to get bored if you stick with the same routine for too long. Sometimes it helps to add variety to your walks. Thus, try taking your workout outside, adding speed intervals, putting new tunes on your Ipod or bring a friend along as we did last Friday!
If that isn't enough, then maybe it's time to try a new activity. Perhaps you've always wanted to try biking or are interested in a new class at your local gym. Change can help keep your workouts fun, interesting, and challenging thus giving you something to look forward to. And that anticipation is exactly what will keep you coming back for more!
3. Your workout isn't giving you results anymore.
Just as you can get bored by always doing the same exercises, your body can also adapt to these exercises, thus they no longer offer the same benefits that they once did. Someone who does the same activity all the time is likely to plateau much sooner than someone who varies his/her workouts. Variety is the spice of life. A splash of variety might be just the thing you need to get the scale moving again or help you break through that plateau. "Variety" means change. Change something about your current routine; add speed, distance, hills, resistance, etc., or branch out and try a totally different activity. Muscles like variety too. Variety helps to keep them challenged; essentially it keeps your body guessing ‘what’s next’!
4. Your workout leaves you more tired and sore than before.
Exercise gives off endorphins. It should not leave you feeling rundown. If you're feeling overly tired or perpetually sore, you could be pushing it too vigorously. Your body needs time for rest and recovery. It is during this down time that you build strength and endurance. You must allow time for your muscles to rebuild and repair. If you don't give your body ample recovery time, you will not become any stronger. If you fear you have been overtraining, your first priority should be REST. You might need up to a week off to recharge mentally and physically. Once you are feeling better, start back slowly. Reevaluate your workout program and find ways to make changes that will prevent this from happening again.
Reference: Sparkpeople
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