One of the things that makes the human body so amazing is that it can adapt to almost anything you throw at it. No matter how difficult something is, if you do it with any regularity, your body will almost immediately begin to adapt; however, this can become an issue. If you do something for too long, you body will not only adapt, it will plateau and stop making improvements all-together. The remedy for this issue is to change up your program so that you body is caught off-guard (this principal is often called “muscle confusion”). A good rule of thumb is to make significant changes to your workout routine (frequency, exercises, reps range, etc.) every 6-8 weeks. This will prevent your body from plateauing. Just in case you are wondering if you should change up your workout, here are a few signs that it is time to change things up:
You are not seeing improvements
If you are not seeing improvements in strength, endurance, or physical appearance, it is time to switch things up. Your body is plateauing and it will only be a matter of time before you lose motivation since you won’t be seeing results.
You are bored during your workouts
This usually follows a plateau, but sometimes we just get bored. If you aren’t enjoying your time exercising, it might be time to make a change to a more enjoyable workout. We all have bad days at the gym, but if you can’t remember the last time you enjoyed going, then things need to change. You should enjoy exercising so do whatever you need to do in order to enjoy it.
You reached a goal/milestone
If you set a goal or a milestone and reached it, then you should set a new (and different) goal. If you reached a weight lifting goal, set out to run a half-marathon. Change things up to keep things interesting and to keep pushing yourself.
You drew a tag
If you drew a tag, now is the time to start training for it. If you drew any tag, you need to be training specifically for that hunt. There is no sense in coming home empty because you failed to train properly and weren’t prepared for the demands of the hunt.
If you need to change your workout routine, do it! Get to work and see the improvement you have been missing.
