How Changing This ONE Thing Dramatically Affected My Workouts
Three Benefits of Variety in a Workout
Consistency is not an issue for me with working out. I don’t need motivation to do a workout. I’ve come to the point where I see the benefits and it has become a strong habit in my daily routine.
But I have struggled with seeing the results I want to see quick enough. Call me impatient but if I’m going to put in the effort, I want the ROI (return on investment). Are you with me? Can I get a fitness amen?
I have a competitive, athletic wife which is awesome. It’s rare a guy can workout with his wife and I’m definitely blessed in this among many other areas.
One day my wife suggested I do one of her workouts with her. It was a BeachBody workout I was aware of but had never tried. She talked me into trying it just for one day. We were short on time and we both needed to workout. (we use the same workout space)
She was doing Les Mills Pump which is a high rep, high intensity workout and focuses on continual repetitions of primarily one body part for five minutes using different speeds of repetitions.
Watch this two minute video if interested HERE:
Since I had never tried it, wanted and needed something new, and she had it set, it was go time. I thought, “how hard can this really be?” I have to be honest, I had a GREAT workout.
I was challenged big time by Three Benefits of Variety in a Workout:
1. Variety Has Challenged Me MENTALLY
There is something to not knowing what is coming next in a workout routine. It keeps you engaged and involved in the workout.
It’s so easy to be in a mental coma on a routine that you know so well you can do without thinking.
I have memories of working out in a gym time after time and zoning out so much I couldn’t remember which set I was on or if I had done a particular exercise yet. Not good, fitness fans.
Since I had never done Les Mills Pump I had absolutely no clue what to do next and expect. As a result, I was so mentally engaged.
I needed the variety of this new routine and it made me enjoy the workout all the more. It also made me look forward to the workout the next day not knowing what was coming next.
You need to be challenged mentally with your workouts. If your mind is not engaged, there is a high probability neither is your body.
2. Variety Has Challenged Me PHYSICALLY
Since I was challenged mentally, this led to me being challenged physically. It meant everything was new and by default, would affect my body.
As a result, I have been SO sore this past week! Muscles that I thought would not be sore were screaming at me.
Why? Variety. Les Mills Pump hit my muscles in a different way using a different method (more reps with lighter weight over a long period of time). And it worked!
My workout routine was SO different this past week and as a result, my body is being challenged and affected in different ways and I love it!
Often, the main reason you’re not seeing results is ROUTINE. Your body has grown so accustomed to your workout that it’s just not challenged.
You may need to change things up. Maybe you can only workout at a certain time of day and for roughly a certain length of time.
But… you do have the ability of choosing a different type of workout. And this may be just what your body needs.
3. Variety Has Provided Me With Much Needed Options
Lastly, variety requires options. You need them mentally to stay engaged. And you need them physically to see results.
I’ve chosen to do home workouts. It was NEVER this way years ago. I was ALWAYS a gym rat. I loved the energy of the gym, being around other people and mostly using barbells and machines. Oh have things changed through the years.
My season of life has changed to traveling, working from home, and in my mid-forties. Does your season of life match your workouts or does something need to changer?
Now I primarily use BeachBody workouts. There are so many options and all can push me to get the results I want if I leave no rep left behind. I can always get a great workout in 30-45 minutes.
I’m also able to replicate many of the workout routines on the road since I travel often for work and my workout is in a hotel fitness center.
I’ve often been asked which BeachBody workouts I use so here is the Crabby Patty Secret Formula:
Body Beast (all dumbbell weightlifter type routine)
Les Mills Pump (new to me and usually my wife’s workout)
Tapout XT (technically not a BeachBody program but same style)
(plus the original P90X and Insanity)
Here’s where variety kicks in. Since I have so many options, I can change things up at any given moment. I can do an arm workout from Body Beast and a chest / shoulder workout from P90X3. I also have ab workouts from almost every BeachBody program.
And as a direct result, I should always have variety Mentally, Physically, and Numerous Options.
Closing Challenge…
Some people simply don’t like change. It requires effort and I get that.
But you don’t get keep doing the same thing over and over and expect to see results. Personal foul. Make the bad man stop.
If you’re in the middle of a workout structure that is time-stamped (like 45 days into a 90 day workout routine like P90X3), stay the course. Don’t change!
But a majority of people are going through the same motions day after day and could use a change. If that’s you, I challenge you to the one word that has been great for me in my workouts recently: VARIETY.
Motivated, busy professionals need to be challenged especially in the area of fitness and I challenge you to add variety to your workout for just one week and see and feel the results yourself. You’ll be shocked.
Closing Question
How can you add variety into your workout to mentally and physically challenge yourself?
[…] How Changing This One Thing Dramatically Affected My Workouts […]