Has this happened to you? You barely make it through January when your gym workout becomes so boring you want to quit. I’ve seen a lot of women get on the exercise bandwagon after the Holidays and fall off early because they started a routine that wasn’t challenging enough. They work every day without seeing physical results. It is so disappointing, if not down right frustrating!
Replace the Wheels on the Exercise Bandwagon
Here’s an example from my own experiences. For years, I went to the gym and did the same routine, the same four or five machines, three sets of 12-15 repetitions, working my arms, legs, butt, and abs. (Oh, and 45 minutes of cardio so that I could still eat junk food and not gain weight!)
I only did the machines I liked, that were easy for me. I put them at 10 or 12 lbs. so I wouldn’t have to strain or sweat. Rarely did I increase the weight settings. After awhile, I’d get bored and stop going. Then when I went back, I’d start over again at the same machines with the same weights.
Occasionally, I’d complain to a personal trainer who’d show me some other machines or some free weights and work the sweat out of me. I’d go home panting and sore, and convinced I’d found the solution. Then I’d be back in the gym, three to four times a week, doing the same old things all over again.
I never worked with free weights (only the guys did that) or increased weights, or tried the things that felt like a strain. No surprise that with this same routine, I got the same mediocre results. My exercise bandwagon seemed to be spinning it’s wheels, with no results. Duh!
Now, looking back, it’s easy to see why working out was such a drag. Boring. Unproductive. It was after I hired Rio, a bodybuilding champion, that I started seeing muscle definition. She whipped me into shape because she challenged me. Some days I couldn’t believe it, but I was lifting 20 lb. dumb bells for upper body, and 50 lbs. doing squats for legs. Talk about wheels!
I was a creature of habit. I did what I knew how to do. While routines are good because it makes it easy for us to stick to it, they might not bring results. Boredom = quitting. We need to mix it up a bit. Especially when it comes to muscles. They can’t get stronger unless we ask them to do more.
You’re Not Alone
I mention this because I’ve talked with other women who do or have done the same thing. Today, I see plenty of women in the gym who hit only the treadmill or elliptical or bike machines. Some do only the jazzercise or Zumba classes, while others prefer yoga. But increasingly, I see a few women performing bicep curls, shoulder exercises, and core work. I believe that’s a new trend because women are getting smarter about the need for a more comprehensive approach to physical well-being.
What about you? Have the wheels ever fallen off your exercise bandwagon? I urge you to consider this as you set goals for 2020. It’s never too late to start again!
Happy “Get-Back-On-Track” January!
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