Paula Reece
Diversity is the spice of life. There is some truth to the statement. You get stuck in your daily routine and do a lot of tasks without thinking about it. They eat at the same time, go to work at the same time, and take out the trash the same day.
Think about your fitness routine. Do you do the same exercises, go to the same class, walk on the same treadmill, or do you lift the same weight for every workout? Maybe it’s time to change that routine.
Adding a little spice can turn a boring fitness routine into something more exciting and motivating. Sometimes you hear the words “change” or “different” and associate them with “new” and “unpleasant”. As creatures of habit, it’s okay to like your comfort zone with their familiar surroundings, people, and activities.
While doing the exact same thing over and over can be comforting, there can be drawbacks as well. Without a change it can get pretty boring. It’s important to spice it up a bit.
For example, consider cross training. Cross-training simply combines two or more types of physical activity and provides a way to make the change you may need.
There are numerous benefits to adding cross-training to your fitness routine. First and foremost is motivation. It’s important to stay interested and motivated to exercise. If you don’t enjoy it, you won’t.
Cross-training can help you burn more calories by exercising regularly and using different muscle groups. You can reduce the risk of injury by doing a variety of exercises – for example, doing a high-impact sport like running one day, followed by a yoga or Pilates class the next day.
It’s easy to create a varied exercise program. Plan a full workout that includes the three areas of physical activity: cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility. Under each section, write down activities that you would like to do or try. Some activities fit into more than one area.
Cardiovascular activities include jumping rope, cycling, running, and dog walking. Activities that build strength include everything from lifting weights and pushups to gardening. Activities that promote flexibility include stretching and yoga.
Changing a routine can not only help reduce boredom but also improve fitness. Our body is adaptable and gets used to an exercise.
It becomes difficult to make changes in our body once it has adjusted to a particular fitness routine. Because of this adaptability, it is important that our bodies can guess by mixing the exercises we do.
How do you change your training? Try something new. Often times we focus on what we think we are doing rather than what we could really do if we tried.
If there’s a favorite exercise machine that you use often that you don’t want to give up, change the intensity, speed, or incline. By gradually changing how hard you work, you will keep your workout challenging. Just remember, if you change your exercise routine, don’t hesitate to ask for help.
Once you’ve chosen your activities, start planning them. Provide variety and flexibility. Experiment with different activities to find out what really interests you.
Keep enjoying your favorite things to do, but challenge yourself to try something new. Make it spicier.
