We all know the importance of working out to stay fit, healthy and in good shape, however it can get a bit dull if you find that you’re doing the same exercises over and over again. After all, doing anything repeatedly is bound to get boring over time, so finding ways to spice up your workout couldn’t be more important if you’re going to stay motivated and on task, achieving your fitness goals and staying in peak condition.
Although it can be tempting to stick with the same old routine, it’s important to change things up from time to time. If your body becomes used to doing the same old things again and again, it will stop being so effective. If you’ve found that you’ve reached a plateau or that you’re thinking of quitting because you’re so bored, finding new things to add into your regime is vital.
With that in mind, here are four things that you can add into your workout to make them a little more exciting and also a little more effective in the long run.
Add In Some Isometrics
Isometrics is a big word for muscular contractions which take place without any ROM (Range Of Motion) of the joint in question. Some isometric exercises include bridges and planks as well as wall sit exercises which involve contracting the muscles in order to keep your body held firmly in position but without moving any joints. Isometrics are known to be very beneficial in increasing core body strength, and so you’ll find that you’re stronger and more capable of longer periods of endurance.
Variable Resistance Training
Variable resistance training uses equipment which causes a change in the resistance level when you perform the exercise and its range of motion. Heavy chains and elastic tubes are just two examples of equipment which are ideal for this type of exercise. Variable resistance training is extremely easy to incorporate into most types of workout regimes, and will help to improve your force development rate while adding more variety to any workout.
Periodization Or Interval Training
One of the most effective ways of spicing up any exercise regime and to make it more effective overall is to introduce interval training or periodization. Any well-designed training program will feature changes in volume and intermittent breaks so your muscles can grow effectively without hitting any plateaus. Periodization also helps to guard against overtraining or detraining which could cause either abandonment of your exercise regime or an injury due to strain. One way of introducing periodization is to take a week off from your routine every 6 – 8 weeks, then returning to the same routine. A different way to do it would be to lower your training volume every 5th week before resuming the original training routine. Interval training, on the other hand, involves stopping one form of exercise after a few minutes and switching to another type. For example, you may jog for 10 minutes then stop and do some press-ups or curl-ups for another 10 minutes before returning to jogging again. Alternatively, you could switch between different pieces of workout equipment in the gym every 5 – 10 minutes or so, allowing you to focus on different muscle groups and different forms of exercise.
Try Something Completely New
If you’re absolutely fed up of hitting the gym and using the same old pieces of equipment again and again or pounding the same sidewalks every day, it’s time to think of something completely different. Why not try a sport or activity that you’ve never tried before? Why not sign up for an aerobics or Zumba class? Or why not try swimming instead of going to the gym? You could even try something completely different in the comfort of your own home. For example, you could try a downloaded yoga workout from the internet or buy a pair of boxing gloves and a punching bag so you can release your frustrations while getting some exercise in your own front room. Details can be found on Body Trained about how to choose the best exercise equipment to suit your needs so you can keep in good condition and keep your fitness regime on track.
