Changing up your fitness routine can help revive that faded passion
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Loading... - Adeline Walker
- 26 May 2022
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It’s been said familiarity breeds contempt. I’m not sure this is entirely true, but in the gym, where repetition is the rule of law, this adage takes on more weight.
Being able to tolerate some monotony is a requirement for all levels of fitness training. A program that focuses exclusively on variety will never deliver results. After all, you only get good at techniques through consistent practice. However some take this idea to the extreme, repeating the exact same workouts over and over for weeks (months? years?) on end. The movements, the weights used, the order of execution – their routine never changes. And no surprise, neither does their body.
Change can be a powerful tool. Switching up our routines, even in subtle ways, often leads to dramatic results. A new environment, a different method, a fresh set of tools – it doesn’t take much to transform the stale into the inspiring. If your progress is stalling and your enthusiasm for working out is waning, it may just be time to change things up. Here are some easy-to-apply options to help revive that faded passion.
Find a new home
Regular readers of this column will know by now that I’m no fan of giant corporate gyms. The Fitness Industrial Complex does nothing to inspire, despite their desperate marketing campaigns featuring young, chiselled models doing fitness-type things. Some of the big names get things right, but they’re the exception to the rule.
If your go-to gym is part of a posh franchise or global conglomerate, consider signing up for a trial membership at a smaller, independent facility.
The equipment at these places is almost always superior. Then there’s the energy, the vibe, the culture; I don’t know what it is but whenever I step foot onto the training floor of a real gym I’m instantly stoked to start lifting.
I can’t say the same for the dull buzz emanating from the endless aisles of treadmills at your standard Big Chain Gym. And don’t get me started on the canned music piped into these places. Raise your hand if Top 40 pop hits light a fire under your butt. That’s what I thought.
Find a new tribe
Tribalism is rife within the fitness world. Bodybuilders occupy one sphere, powerlifters another. CrossFit takes place inside a “box,” martial arts inside a dojo. How can you tell if someone runs marathons? Don’t worry, they’ll tell you (same goes for triathletes, yogis and adherents of calisthenics).
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Tribes offer a sense of belonging and an element of support, which can lead to genuine motivation. But if all your workouts take place under the banner of one specific protocol you’re likely missing out on a world of benefits.
Myopic specialization is best left for competitive athletes. The rest of us would do well to adopt a generalist mindset. Lifters should learn to run. Runners should learn to lift. And CrossFitters? Well, every now and then try thinking outside the box. Read More...
