Just like anything in life, doing the same thing for too long can become boring. And what happens when something becomes boring? You quit and move on. Sooner or later, this will happen with your training! So, how do you know when it’s time to turn things up a notch?
YOU DON’T WANT TO WORKOUT
Fitness should always be a challenge, but it should also be fun. If it’s not, you need to reassess your choice of training and swap it for a routine that will make those 6am starts that little bit easier. Bored of running endlessly on a treadmill? Try a HIIT session with resistance equipment, or try weight training. Fed up of working out alone? Recruit a training partner. Lacking motivation? Try refreshing your workout playlist. Even the simplest of changes can make the biggest difference!
YOU’RE NOT SEEING RESULTS
This is a huge indication that something needs to change. Whether it’s your diet, your training, or both – make the appropriate adjustments and kick-start that progress once again. Even just creating a small calorie deficit and throwing in a little extra cardio now and then can shake things up enough to get you into those new jeans.
YOU DON’T FEEL CHALLENGED
This point is so important. Whilst you want to keep things enjoyable, you should never finish a workout thinking “oh, that was easy!”. Sweat like a pig to look like a fox, as they say. Keep pushing until you feel you can’t possibly do any more. If you’re finding it easy to lift 10KG, increase the weight slightly. If you’re finding it easy to run 5K, try 6K on your next run. Push yourself, and you’ll see results. Hitting new PBs is a healthy addiction to have, with huge rewards physically and mentally.