The Power of Change: Why Exercise Should Vary Often
By Genevieve Cunningham
Exercise is so important for the body and brain. It keeps us healthy and strong and positive about life. But is any old exercise routine OK? Or are there specific things that we should be doing to stay fit? While any amount of exercise is better than none, the best exercise is varied and constantly changing. Take a look at these reasons to keep your exercise routine changing in order to gain the most benefit for your health.
Muscle Confusion
You may have heard this term thrown around in the fitness world. The basic concept is that you have to continually surprise your muscles. Working the same set of muscles day in and day out will not work. Those muscles will get used to the repetition, and then will cease to be challenged. Changing up your exercise program causes the muscles to be confused and every time you return to a certain muscle group, they’ll be challenged all over again.
Motivation
Let’s be real: Exercise can get monotonous and boring. Changing it up from time to time can help keep it interesting, which may then help to keep that motivation alive. Losing motivation to exercise is the number one reason that most people quit. Not soreness in the body or difficulty level or anything else. By keeping the workout interesting and ever changing, you’re more likely to stick with it, and thus the more likely you are to see results.
Body Knowledge
The best way to improve fitness is to understand your body on a basic level. It’s important to understand what works for your composition to reach your personal goals. By trying new exercises, you are bound to learn new techniques, new challenges, and new ways of changing the body. You may find that a certain move really works the legs or that another move causes too much pain. This knowledge can then be applied to everyday life and activities to give you the biggest challenges and the most opportunity for fitness success.
Maintaining a regular exercise routine can be tough, but it’s a lot easier if you’re willing to experiment and change it up from time to time. Doing so can challenge the muscles, keep the brain engaged, and lead to better fitness. Don’t be afraid to give change a try; you may find it’s the most effective way to earn the best body of your life.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.