More Change is Coming
I am sure that you have stumbled across an article or two (thousand!) in fitness magazines which proclaims to offer the best workout routine ever devised. I have a problem with any such declarations and so should you. The only truly successful workout program is a lifetime approach to exercise that is in a constant state of flux. Please do not misread my comment. Virtually any exercise plan can be productive, for a time. A plan for your fitness sessions is what you need. You have lacked some structure and consistency when you visit the gym. So, the appeal of an article promoting a controlled, manageable routine which produces incredible returns is understandable. But, I implore you not to become overly fixated with this new workout program. This exciting discovery from a popular periodical can be fruitful, for sure. However, as I have recently written, you need to mix things up in order to see the progress you really desire.
I highly recommend that you change up something about your routine every thirty days. No matter how much you are infatuated with your plan, no matter the effectiveness of your program, no matter how comfortable you’ve become with your routine, my recommendation is unchanging. Your required change does not necessarily mean a major overhaul is in store for you each month. There is certainly no need to feel as if you will be losing something by retooling your efforts. I promise that you will not miss a beat. In fact, after a few months of altering your approach, you will actually begin to have more fun! Of course, I would not be encouraging change if it does not bring with it improved results as well.
Consider the fact that you have been following this highly publicized workout to the letter. I literally mean that you have not deviated one iota from what was printed adjacent to those glossy photos of a physique you desire. Therein lies the format you were desperately searching for, but therein also lies the trap into which many like you fall. What would be so terribly wrong or difficult if you just decided, on a whim, that you were going to change up the order in which you performed the particular exercises prescribed for you? Well, you would catch no flack from me for trying that simple idea. Hey, it works! Don’t be afraid that this will disrupt the time-space continuum. You know a bit about human nature. You certainly know yourself. Break the chains that bind you to the monotony of the supposed “perfect workout blueprint”. As a creature of habit, you may be a tad reluctant at first to mess with something that has been so good for you. Nevertheless, you need to free yourself.
“May I take a month off from using free weights exclusively?” you ask. Absolutely! There are so many wonderful strength training machines which you have purposefully been ignoring each day at the gym. I am certain that you could easily locate the proper machines to closely mimic the very same movements you have been engaged in with your precious dumbbells. If you can’t find one, just ask me for assistance. So, another very simple concept to apply when mixing things up is to change the manner in which you perform your exercises. You realize that those machines are not just for beginning exercisers. The design of strength training machines has improved so much you’d be greatly mistaken to continue to bypass them. Resistance bands, a cable cross-over apparatus (preferably the v-shaped type that sits in a corner), assisted machines, smith machine racks, and body weight movements are more than acceptable alternatives as well. I can guarantee that you will experience the following feeling. When you lay off from performing a certain task in a specific way for thirty days, upon returning to it, that same old movement feels brand spanking new. When you change your routine, your muscles will be ever so grateful. You give them a break from the same old, same old, and you will begin to feel things happening to them in ways you never imagined.
“Does changing my grip constitute sufficient change?” Now you are thinking! Using a variety of different hand positions is a super way to incorporate the very type of simple change I am referring to. Try a narrow grip instead of your usual wide one. Experiment with an underhand approach to gripping to replace your typical overhand selection. Some exercises may seem more challenging while others may appear to be easier to perform. An adjustment in the amount of resistance utilized may be required to compensate for switching an attachment or your grip.
“Would changing the movement speed for each repetition satisfy your decree for something new?” Now, you must be reading my mind instead of that article. Though not often employed, this strategy is extremely effective. It is also very challenging. It might not be too much of a stretch to say that this concept will provide you with your most intense strength training sessions ever. If your lift and lower rate has been set at about two seconds up and two seconds down, try adding a full second count to each phase of the movement. If your muscles can handle it, attempt to double the time it takes you to complete one repetition. Wow! That will be your reaction when your muscles begin the shake. You will notice that you need to lower the amount of weight lifted as you decrease the speed. Don’t let your ego interfere. The numbers don’t mean much here! The effective weight is greater because your muscles are under sustained tension for a longer period of time. This is wonderful for their development. You will not need to maintain the same overall workload for each session. So, don’t worry about this dramatically extending your stay at the gym.
If I have said it once, I have said it a hundred times. Learn more ways to do each of your favorite exercises. This allows you to implement the thirty day “change challenge” with complete confidence. Educating yourself is very important for you to endure your fitness journey. So, by all means, keep reading that fitness magazine or online article. But, before the month is over, start laying the groundwork for your new plan.