Why Mixing Up Your Exercise Routine is Important

Whatever gets your body and mind moving towards a wellness routine is a great start to better health.

If you like to walk, then go for a walk. If you like to kickbox, then join a kickboxing class. If you prefer weights, then lift away.

However, mixing up your exercise routine is important.  Here are five great reasons to add variety to your workout routine.

#1:  Doing Different Exercises Will Help You Avoid Plateauing

If you only lift weights, you are going to become strong. If you only run long distances at a slow pace, you will increase stamina. However, just doing one is not going to make you better at the other.

If you add high-intensity training with weights, or a similar activity, your body will respond to the challenge by becoming physically stimulated, so you do not plateau.

A plateau occurs when the body has become accustomed to doing the same repeated exercises.

Placing new demands on the body will increase the intensity and promote new muscle growth which will allow you to be physically fit from top to bottom.

#2: Variety Helps You Stay Engaged in Physical Fitness

Workout variety is important for both your physical and mental health because it helps keep you from becoming bored with your existing routine.

Research shows that adding variety to an exercise program helps you adhere to it because you’ll enjoy your workouts more which means we are more inclined to stick with it.

#3: Different Activities Burn Fat & Build Muscle in Different Areas of the Body

Weight loss is not the only reason to workout. Many people workout to become stronger, not thinner.

The human body is a very efficient machine.  If you are doing the same exercises every day, your body will adapt and begin burning fewer calories, even if you are doing the same amount of exercise.

You need to challenge your body to work harder in a different way to get rid of the extra pounds or to build muscles in certain areas.

#4: Variety Helps Prevent Overuse Injuries

Repetitive strain injuries occur when someone does the same action every day, which could include running, swimming or weightlifting, to name a few. When you mix up your workout, it gives the often-overused muscles a break and allows joints and ligaments to rest and recover.

If you have been injured, or if your knees simply hurt from running every day, performing a different activity that minimizes the use of those muscles will help reduce further risk of injury.

#5: Physical Challenges Lead to Mental Stimulation

Working out is designed to help boost your overall health and well-being, which includes your mind. Pushing yourself to new fitness levels using different activities will keep your brain engaged and respond with endorphins, which decreases stress while combating illnesses and disease.

If you are ready to mix up your exercise routine or just need advice about which exercises are best for you, contact me and I can create an individualized workout plan.