In a fitness rut? How to shake up your routine

May 27, 2016

 Have you ever felt like you hit a wall in your fitness routine? If you're no longer seeing progress or you're not excited about your usual workout, it may be time to shake it up. Here are seven ways to add excitement to your regimen while still getting a killer workout.

1. Get out of your comfort zone: It can be intimidating, but if you try something completely new (Rock climbing? Boxing? Zumba?), the change-up will surprise your body. Keeping your body guessing is a good thing because you're less likely to experience plateaus when you experiment with new exercises.
2. Limit your workout time: Do you spend more than an hour at the gym? This could be contributing to your burnout. Consider how to get as much done as quickly as possible (think about combining two moves together, not rushing). Once you up the intensity to complete a workout sooner, you'll notice a big difference.
3. Track your activity: If you don't have one already, a sleep and activity tracker, such as the REM-Fit Active 200, can help you see your progress from the beginning and keep you motivated to move forward. Keep your eye on the prize by establishing a new goal to reach.
4. Get outside: We're approaching the summer season, which is the best time of year for summer activities. Hiking, kayaking, cycling, tennis, rollerblading , you name it , are always great choices to get out of the gym and into the great outdoors. And, the REM-Fit Active 200 also tracks more than just steps; it gives you ActivePoints so you can track any activity.
5. Consult your resources: Have you never run a 5K? There could be one coming up near you , do some research online to see if there are events around you that you could explore. Or, reach out to a friend to see how he/she stays active , you might be able to buddy up and go to a new class or train together.
6. Sleep more: Sleep is a key element of any training plan. The most important part to remember is that you need sleep AND exercise. Many times, we sacrifice one for the other. Stay focused and motivated by making more time for both.
7. Check your fundamentals: Taking a timeout to head back to the basics is always a good idea. When you focus on the fundamentals, you may find that you previously had improper form or that you needed to stretch more, which could contribute to plateaus or worse, injuries.

Whether you're looking for a new challenge or feeling like you're in the middle of a rut, sometimes you need a break. However, there are ways to stay active, feel great about exercise and see results; it just requires a little bit of change.

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