Is your routine too routine?

 

You have finally reached the stage in your workout routine to where you can
roll out of bed at 5:30 a.m. without an alarm clock, drive to the gym with
your eyes still closed, and perform your well-structured workout routine on
autopilot. Unfortunately, the novelty of this routine is quickly fading,
and something needs to be done soon to spice up your quest for fitness, or
it'll be back to the recliner and remote control for you....
        Athletes train in cycles to systematically prepare their bodies for the
rigours of their competitive season. Each cycle usually has a specific
focus, be it muscular endurance, flexibility, size, strength, power, speed,
etc. Though athletes use this principle for their specific sport/position
preparation, recreational exercisers can also utilize it to prevent boredom
and plateaus in their own workout programs. For example, when returning to
physical activity after a long layoff, or just beginning an exercise
program, a prudent approach would be to focus on muscular endurance,
cardiovascular fitness, and flexibility for, say, 4-8 weeks. Take a week
off, and then return with a new focus of developing some muscular size
and/or strength, while maintaining cardiovascular fitness with fewer, but
more intense sessions for another 4-6 weeks. If, at this time, you are
tired of the gym routine, shift your workouts outdoors. Learn some speed,
agility, quickness, or plyometric exercises to enhance footwork and power
for your recreational sport activities. A personal trainer/strength coach
may be helpful in guiding you when designing such programs
        The body is designed to adapt to many different stimuli. By challenging our
bioenergetic, musculoskeletal, and neuromuscular systems in various ways, we
are preventing both our bodies and minds from succumbing to the boredom of
any routine.

Mike Wilson is a trainer at PURSUIT Training and Rehabilitation, located
in the Cloverdale Athletic Park. PURSUIT provides complete sport
conditioning and physiotherapy services. Contact the office at: 604-574-2895
or pursuittraining@telus.net.

Mike Wilson

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