It happens to everyone … WORKOUT BOREDOM! After working out at the local gym or in your home fitness room for months, you saw strength gains, weight loss, increased flexibility and a feeling of empowerment. Lately, however, you have become bored with your workout, the physical changes that you were experiencing came to a halt and you are feeling discouraged and a bit frustrated. You may possibly have triggered an old injury or have soreness during or after the workout that does not go away with time. So what’s happening with your workout?

To answer the first part of the question regarding a “stale workout” you have hit a plateau as it is called in the fitness world. What can you do to get past this phase? Cross Train to put more energy into your program. Our bodies have the amazing ability to adapt and once the adaptation has occurred we need to shake things up. If you have been running on the treadmill, change your cardio routine to the stationary or incumbent bike or take a Spinning class if it is offered at your gym. Go for walks outside and increase your time or the intensity of your workout. Remember- MODERATION – do not increase too much at once or you may injury yourself. Small changes are best. Ask one of your friends to work out with you; a little competition will always increase the intensity.

Change the sequence of the workout. Does strength training always follow your cardio program? Why not reverse the workout? If you have not felt that you are increasing strength gains, you may need to modify your weight-training regime. With weight training it is important to change the angle or direction of the recruitment of the muscle(s). If your weight lifting routine is limited because of soreness or pain that extends beyond a few days after weight lifting, you may need to consult a health care practitioner for an evaluation. You may tend to not have the correct movement and may further increase the injury.

Here at FirstHealth of Andover, our qualified trainers can put energy back into your workout. The trainers can assess your current program and perhaps modify it so it is a program that will not only be safe and effective but also increase the effectiveness of the workout. Why not put the POWER back into your workout!