Time for a Change?

So, you’ve been pretty consistent with working out since January, or maybe longer than that.

You saw some great changes at first but now you feel that you’ve “plateaued”.

Although this could indicate many different things, it might help to mix things up a little bit.

Developing the exercise habit is key to success: you need to get to the point where going to the gym is automatic and you don’t feel right if you miss a day. Once you’ve done that, though, you might start to feel stale—you’re not as excited about your workout, you don’t feel as good as you used to when you finish.

This is the point at which making one or two small changes might really pay off. Here are a couple of things to consider:

1. Try a different class format once a week. This might mean adding a class or substituting a usual one foe a new one. Just change one day—that way your normal schedule stays pretty much intact.

2. Set a new achievable goal. Maybe it’s running a 5K, or using your bike to commute to work on nice days; maybe it’s performing 10 push-ups in the next month. Having a new goal is great for making things feel fresh.

3. Find an exercise buddy. Looking forward to hanging out with friends is always a mood lifter!

4. Add one small nutrition component. Maybe it’s bringing your lunch to work instead of buying it, or eating a green leafy veggie every day. Small changes that are easy to accomplish sometimes get big results!

Remember that small changes can really help to revitalize your workout. Keep the framework of your exercise habit intact and tweak things just a bit—you may be surprised by how much this could be an “attitude adjuster”!

By: Fitness Instructor Elizabeth Sheinkopf