How often should you change your workout? Should you change your workout at all? As a general rule, it is a good idea to change your workout routine at least once a month. It does not mean you have to change your workout just because it has been the same for the past four weeks.
If you are making progress and feel good, do not change what you are doing just for the sake of doing something different. But even when I am extremely happy with the results, I still try to change my workout if it has been the same for the past three months.
So, how do you go from one form of physical activity to another? Here is what celebrity trainer Brett Hoebel recommends:
If you are a runner, try yoga. “The stretching will help balance out tight, overused muscles,” says Hoebel, who suggests classes twice a week.
If you do not like lifting weights, try group fitness classes like kickboxing. “You’ll get a great full-body workout with the camaraderie of other people as motivation,” says the NYC pro, adding that you will tone up all over.
If you hate crunches but want bikini-ready abs, try Pilates. “Core-focused, it works out every ab muscle,” says Hoebel. Another bonus: “Your mind and body are engaged, so it’s a lot less boring than crunches.”
If you like social activities, try salsa or samba dancing. “Dance classes are a great form of cardio,” he says. “They’re social, burn lots of calories and are fun.”
If you feel like you are bulking up, try swimming. Good form and steady laps “provide resistance to your entire body,” says Hoebel. “It will sculpt lean muscle all over while burning off fat.”
If you are not a fan of machines at the gym, try a martial art like capoeira. This Afro-Brazilian martial art-dance combo “uses your own body weight for resistance and delivers a fun, full-body workout,” says Brett. Do three times a week.
If you feel your body has hit a plateau, try to change your fitness regimen. “Shock your body by picking a completely new exercise every six weeks and you’ll get results,” says Hoebel. Or change up your current routine, say, with intervals.
If you love being outside, try cycling. Says Hoebel, “If you want to lose weight, it burns lots of calories and works major muscles like quads and glutes.” [via]