WAKE UP YOUR WORKOUT

Are you sleepwalking through your all-too-familiar exercise routine?

Then you’re only dreaming of results. The body starts to know what to

expect, and will do as little as it has to do to get you through the

workout. Changing your routine forces your body to adapt to the new

stimuli. Bust boredom, torch calories and refresh your workout with

these simple tweaks.

*TRADE LONG AND BLAH FOR SHORT AND SWEATY

Ditch the outdated and counterproductive idea that only a whole hour

of cardio will do. Lots of people who do an hour do it when watching

their favorite TV show is on, and if you can concentrate on the show

then you’re not getting your heart rate up. So it much better to do

20mins and push yourself really hard. Always ask yourself: am I

working as hard as I can be?

*GOT 10 MINUTES

You can hit every major muscle group, blast some calories and rid

yourself of the guilt that yet another day has gone by without a

workout with this quickie

*Skip rope for 1 minute

*Do ten push ups (on knees or full – whichever you can manage) slowly

*Do 30 sit-ups.

*Repeat cycle three to five times, depending on your fitness level.

Skipping burns tons of calories, the press ups work your arms, back

and chest, which have already been warmed up by the rope, and the

sit-ups hit your core.

*ITS (NOT) CRUNCH TIME

News flash: crunches – even hundreds of them are not always the way to

a flat tummy. The PLANK is the most efficient and effective way,

because it works the transverse abdominals, which hold you in like a

belt. The stronger and tighter those muscles become, the more they

hold you in like a corset.

*LOOK FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE

Think differently with exercise, whether you change the slope of the

bench, the way the weight travels or the distance between your limbs.

This will make sure your body is being tested, therefore challenging

balance and forcing muscle fibers to work together in new ways.

*HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON

Stop for a second at the start and end of each movement phase when

you’re lifting weights – this eliminates momentum and makes the muscle

work harder. Also limit your range to stimulate your muscle.

*TRY A NEW GROUP SESSION

Getting out of our exercise comfort zone and trying something completely new with a new class or a new trainer, will have your body guessing in a whole level and exercising in a whole new way! Even us personal trainers who try new classes feel a whole new level of a challenge to our bodies.

*EXERCISE WITH A FIT FRIEND

People tend to gravitate towards the exercise behavior of those around

them. Can’t coordinate diaries with your super-buff pal? Even a

stranger will do, so hop on the treadmill next to the sweatiest person

you can find. If someone next to you is working hard chances are you

will to.

*PLEASE DON’T STOP THE MUSIC

Try listening to different tunes as a change of tempo can boost your

cardiovascular work.