Spring cleaning is usually associated with purging your house of extra clutter and scrubbing it down to rid yourself of all the germs.
I want to suggest that while you are reorganizing closets and freshening up, take time to look at your workout. Like any routine in our lives it can become stale, boring, or ineffective. I know for me when my fitness routine gets boring I more inclined to find something else to do than workout. To help you and me keep on track this year here are 5 ways to freshen up your workout.
- Pinterest is a great resource for fitness ideas, a lot of which you can do at home. These are especially helpful when winter doesn't want to let go of it's icy reins, it's raining, or any other of the million things that can happen to prevent you from working out!
- If you're a runner like me you hate the treadmill (necessary evil I know) and even your favorite outdoor path gets lame after awhile. Go Off Road, not only will the change of scenery be nice but the terrain will work your muscles in a new way. Another tip for the runners: Get Social run with your friends or search for a running group in your area.
- Add Weights. If you're already using weights, try bigger ones. I switch up using weights before and after my cardio. Be sure to target each muscle group with more than one weighted movement. I recommend 3-4 different exercises per focused muscle. It's a myth that if women use heavy weights they will end up looking like a man. Unless you are taking crazy supplements it's not going to happen.
- Change Up Your Cardio. I use to do Zumba 3 days a week, religiously, it was my only cardio. Although I still enjoy it, it stopped being as effective as it was the first few months. Now I do Zumba once and a body works class each week along with running 3 days. Cardio is great but it is definitely one of those exercises that gets stale quick. Try a different class, a different teacher, location, anything. Cardio is important so don't drop it completely, just make it work for you!
- Sometimes you mean well but you really have no idea if what you are doing is working or you slack off because you aren't accountable to anyone. In that case get a Trainer or use the Buddy System. Personal Trainers can be a great tool to work specific areas of your body, also paying someone extra money on top of your gym membership forces you to go. Do your research though, and make sure your trainer isn't just an overgrown jock with a piece of paper. If your issue is not consistently making it to the gym, get a group of your friends together and invoke the Buddy System. People are more likely to not miss a workout if they have someone that is encouraging them to go.
Not only can your routine get tired but so can your clothes. Since you're probably going through your drawers and closest anyway, take a look at your workout gear.
Check the tread on your shoes, if the stench of your workouts aren't coming out of your clothes toss 'em, and go get yourself at least one new piece of clothing. I always feel better when I have something new to rock!
What do you do to change up your workout?
