When it comes to change, sometimes it can be scary. We tend to become creatures of habit, and when we get comfortable with something we tend to shy away from disturbing the natural flow. But, sometimes a little switch up is good, even to your exercise routine!
Maybe you find yourself sticking to the same Kickboxing classes or the same 45 mins of cardio, and while regular exercise is good for you, it’s also good to vary up the routine. You’ll not only be doing your body a favor, but you’ll also be keeping your mind sharp. And trust us, there’s an endless amount of exercises to try out. It’s recommended to stick to your routine for 8-12 weeks, and then add in changes.
Here are a few suggestions…
- Up the Intensity – If you’re doing steady cardio on a treadmill or elliptical machine try increasing the resistance level for about five minutes and then bringing it back down. You don’t want to increase it for too long of a time because this will put your muscles in shock and make you more vulnerable to injuries.
- Squats – If the elliptical machine is usually your ‘go to’ for the cardio workout you’re probably also aware that you’re working out your gluteus but that might not be enough. If you’re still looking to tone your gluteus, try adding in some squats with weights or a resistance band for that extra lift you desire.
- Planks – The core is sometimes a muscle group we forget to pay attention to when working out, especially if we aren’t at our goal weight yet. You can easily add some ab workouts into your routine though… just make sure you aren’t doing 100 sit-ups at once because this will do nothing but damage your back and spine. Try sticking to planks or set legs lifts as these don’t cause as much stress on your back and neck.
- Switch up the Days – Also, another easy way to switch up the routine without incorporating any new exercises is switching up the days of the week that you workout different muscle groups.
Make sure the exercises you add in are working for you. If you feel like something doesn’t fit and your body isn’t reacting positively to the new changes it’s okay to change it up until you find a new routine you like. If you need help coming up with a more custom exercise routine to suit your health and dietary needs we have Personal Trainers here at DASHA® to help.
