When it comes to personal fitness routines, many feel that something is better than nothing. Then there are those who take improving their health and wellbeing very seriously and stick to a routine. In either case, it can be very discouraging not to see the desired results from your fitness routine, especially if you’ve been working out for a while without seeing any obvious results. So what can be done? How can you make your workout count and see results? Here are some bad fitness habits that may be hindering your results.

 

While it’s true that a bad workout is better than no workout at all, that only holds true when some—not all—of your workouts lack intensity. It’s important to break a sweat. If you want to see any changes, you’ll have to challenge yourself. For instance, lifting weights is the best way to increase your metabolism, sustain long-term muscle growth, and stay lean. If you’re able to do 10 reps with ease, you may need to increase the weight you’re lifting and vary the number of reps. The same holds true for cardio exercises; simply turning up the speed or increasing the resistance can make all the difference.

 

Along with upping the intensity, it’s also important to mix up your routine. Your routine may have helped you to initially lose weight, but once you’ve become proficient at that particular routine, your progress will plateau. It takes the body approximately 4 weeks to adapt to a routine, so if your routine stays the same, your results will stay the same as well. In order to see new results, you’ll have to vary your workouts and do exercises that you’re not particularly good at so your body stays challenged. To keep seeing results, mix up your intensity or duration every time you hit the gym, and make sure to switch up your workout once a month.

 

While something is better than nothing, make your something count by upping your intensity and varying your workouts. It’s easy to stick to what we know and are comfortable with, but these changes will help you get the most benefit for your eɛ ort.

Author: 
Taylor Lee, Certified COA Fitness Trainer