Take Your Workout Somewhere New
your workout
How can you get motivated again on your workout?
What can you do to get through a workout plateau?
Why should you take your workout somewhere new?
You may have heard of a weight plateau (the scale gets stuck on a number you no longer want to see). But do you know you can experience the same phenomenon when it comes to mental and physical fitness, too? It’s true!
“Your muscles and your mind get used to the activity level. For sure when you do the same routine, in the same place over and over again.” says Lacey Stone, a personal trainer in Los Angeles, CA. “This can lead to a fitness plateau and major boredom,” she says. “Everyone gets bored—it’s human nature,” says Stone. But when you’re mentally not into your workout, your intensity level can take a nosedive; and you can forget about seeing positive fitness results, she says. The fastest way to get out of that funk? Take your workout somewhere new! Here’s how moving from the studio to the park, or from the road to a dirt trail, can improve your mind and body.
A New Locale… Makes You Push Harder
Switching things up with a workout in a new spot outdoors can make fitness fun and exciting again. And it might even help you recommit to your step goal. A study looking at older walkers reveals those who took their steps outside were significantly more physically active than those who stayed inside—outdoor walkers exercised longer and more often, and some even reported feeling more satisfied.
A New Locale… Can Be a Breath of Fresh Air
Literally. Research published in Building and Environment shows air in typical gyms and fitness centers isn’t exactly fresh—test results showed high levels of airborne dust, formaldehyde, and carbon dioxide. While the pollutants aren’t life threatening; study authors note regular exposure over time can contribute to respiratory problems, body fatigue, and cognitive fogginess. Ask your fitness instructor to take the class outdoors a couple times per week, or consider cross-training with a nice bike ride in the park.
A New Locale… Helps Prevent Overuse Injuries
Repetitive motion during activities like walking and running can lead to injury overtime. When muscles fatigue they become more prone to tears, making cross-training super important. But simply taking your steps to a trail or treadmill can also have a big impact. Studies indicate softer surfaces put less pressure on your muscles, ligaments, and joints.
Are you getting the most out of your fitness routine? Tell us where you’ll be working out today in the comments!
This article is not intended to substitute for informed medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet; altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.
Source: Fitbit Blog
