I may be alone in this, but I have this crazy idea that working out sometimes feels more like a chore than a hobby. Sure, 99 percent of the time (really 30 percent) I look forward to working out, but every now and then the motivation is just not there. I may be too tired, busy, dehydrated, sniffly or a host of other excuses I use to justify not working out.
It's funny to think we are willing to come up with excuses to get out of something that leaves us high with endorphins. So why do we do it? Just like so many other things, working out can be monotonous.
Every time I go to the gym, I spend exactly 29.5 minutes on the treadmill. Then I do 100 crunches and finish up with some 10-pound dumbbells. After a few weeks of this routine, I start to look at the treadmill like it's the enemy. If I spend one more minute in that tiny corner of the fitness center squeezed in between 16 other people, I may throw that 10-pound dumbbell at the mirror. Then, inevitably, the excuses begin.
According to the Sports Medicine section of About.com, alternating your workouts cannot only alleviate boredom, but for an extra special bonus, it's also better for full-body conditioning. Cross training or changing your workout is an effective way to work some muscles while working new muscles or letting others rest.
If you have been doing the same workout for three years and haven't seen results, you likely need a change. Your body gets used to a workout and then it becomes less effective. The reasons why trainers recommend you bump up your weight or extend your cardio time after a little while are the same reasons it is important to change your workout.
I have discovered that I get bored with workouts. I am sure this is as sad for you as it is for me. The appeal of going to the same class or doing the same routine every week diminishes each time I do it. In order to combat my boredom, I try to shake it up as much as possible.
Last semester, I bought a group class pass at the fitness center so that I could kickbox, body sculpt, or do whatever I was actually excited to do that week. Then when I would do my normal routine at the gym, it didn't seem overused. To do something totally different and really work out my whole body this semester, I picked up Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Getting a weekly butt-kicking is definitely not boring.
This is, of course, not to say that you need to pick up martial arts to have a good workout, but there is more to exercising than the gym or what we typically associate with working out. In fact, we can burn calories in many less conventional ways. For example, you can go dancing at a club downtown, go for a walk in Rock Creek Park or even have a hot and heavy hook-up session between classes.
Even with my vast supply of workout opportunities, I still make excuses. Sometimes I dread having to make an effort to exercise. But I just try to remember how good I feel after-that wonderful sense of accomplishment. And if all else fails, I think about the fact that I paid good money to use the gym. Ultimately, the best solution is to do whatever works for you, but if you begin to feel like excuses are making a hostile takeover, then it may be time to try something new.
