Spice Up Your Workouts with These Tips!
It can happen to anyone. The lingering dread, the growing disinterest, the growing tendency to skip out on your workout, to let minor inconveniences interrupt the healthy activities that you’ve had planned. A small change in your attitude, a few excuses here and there, and before you know what’s happened it’s been weeks since your last workout.
Maybe you fight through it; you show up at the gym and you go through the motions. But weeks go by without any change in your motivation level. Your interest in your workout has plateaued and there is no help in sight.
This is the making of a workout rut, and it can happen to anyone, at any level. Even professional athletes can hit workout ruts.
Sometimes, what’s worked for you in the past starts to not work anymore, and before you know it you may be losing interest in your exercise plans altogether.
Try these 3 workout tips!
- Make your workouts social and competitive. If your primary plan is to go running on the treadmill for 30 minutes after work, then it is no wonder that you will hit a workout rut after a while. Even the most interesting television program or your favorite podcast can’t break up that sort of monotony. However, if you mix up your solo run with a few social runs, then you may find the motivation you are looking for. Running clubs are a great outlet for this, as are local races. Even if you aren’t ready for a half marathon, a 5k is a great way to get out there with other people in your area who enjoy a good run.
- The gym isn’t the only place to get a workout. There are a lot of ways to work out, and the traditional gym is far from the end-all-be-all of the fitness world. There are a lot of unique, specialized fitness centers that feature a totally different type of fitness experience. Rock climbing is a total body workout that requires finesse and problem solving. Martial arts requires no small degree of mental clarity and respect for the body and your fitness goals. Trying something totally new like this can help reshape your interest in your workout and pull you out of your rut.
- A new class can help you develop a new hobby. Oftentimes, the reason that a workout rut happens is because of boredom. Learning something new can ebb that boredom by mixing up your physical fitness routine. Most gyms have workout classes, often including aerobic classes like kickboxing or Zumba, yoga classes, or sometimes even cross fit classes. Taking a class like this is also a great way to meet people with similar fitness interests, and finding a new workout partner can help you jump out of that rut even faster.
Don’t forget to stretch
Stretching exercises are a staple of physical therapy for many reasons.
You may have heard that stretching “cold” muscles isn’t ideal—which is true. Our bodies need to be adequately warmed up prior to stretching—otherwise we increase our risk for injury and tissue damage.
This doesn’t mean you should never stretch at all before a workout, however. A simple 5-minute warm-up such as light jogging, brisk walking, and arm circles and leg swings is usually sufficient to get your joints and tissues warmed up and prepared for mobility work.
For many folks, dynamic stretches are the most effective for pre-workout mobility. Meanwhile, they’ll save static stretches and foam rolling for after the workout. Wondering what works best for you?
Our physical therapy staff is happy to help you problem-solve and figure out the best routine for your body.
Are you in a workout rut?
Workout ruts can be cataclysmic to your exercise and health goals. Instead of giving into the rut and letting your healthy habits fall by the wayside, climb your way out of the rut by finding a new and exciting workout routine that can stimulate your interest once again.
If you find yourself not as interested in your workout as you once were, then it is possible you are hitting a workout rut. Identifying the rut early on is the best thing you can do to avoid falling out of the fitness habit.
Workout ruts are avoidable, and overcoming one isn’t too difficult so long as you are honest with yourself about what you are looking for in your fitness routine. At the end of the day, your workout should be fun. Think about what you enjoy doing most and get out there.
Looking for more assistance?
If your workout rut is caused by something more than a bit of boredom, don’t attempt to push through on your own. Injuries are the number one reason as to why people stop working out.
If you are dealing with any lingering pain following an injury, or are looking as to how you can get active again after an injury, contact us. One of our experts can help you get back on track and into something interesting to help you keep up with your fitness goals.
