Remember when you first started out with your weight loss program in East Brunswick and every day felt like a challenge? Your diet was new, your workout was new and the daily aches and pains were reassurances that you were on track to a fitter, healthier body.
As you progress through your medical weight loss programs you’ll start experiencing the muscle aches less and less. This is a natural result of your body adjusting to the routine you’ve set for yourself, and should be looked at as a milestone in your weight loss efforts. What was once difficult is now a breeze. This is a sign that your body is ready for more—that it is time to boost your workout intensity.
As your muscles adjust to your workout they are not going to become as fatigued as they might have when fitness was still fresh and new. If you aren’t careful this decreased difficulty could lead to a weight loss plateau. To keep losing weight and prevent weight regain, you will need to up the intensity of your workout.
Here are a few tips to boost your workout efforts:
- Try interval training: Interval training is a favorite among athletes for its ability to increase your workout intensity in small steps. To try interval training, walk for ten minutes at your normal pace, then for five minutes run as fast as you can. After your five minutes of running return to your walking pace for another ten minutes. Do this for 30 to 60 minutes. To try interval training while weight lifting, do your regular weight limit for one set of repetitions and then increase the weight for another set.
- Mix it up: Sticking to one workout won’t challenge your muscles in the way multiple workouts will. To boost your workout intensity, try adding new activities that challenge different muscle groups. Complement cardio activities with weight training, or add a new fitness class to your schedule.
- Get a buddy: Finding a workout buddy is a great way to boost your workout intensity, as well as remain accountable to your workout schedule. Try creating a healthy competition between you and a close friend, and encourage each other to push harder.
Before adding exercise to your weight loss routine or adjusting the intensity of your workouts, consult with your weight loss team. They will help you set realistic limits to ensure you improve your health while staying injury free.
What other ways have helped you boost your workout intensity and continue getting the most out of every trip to the gym? Share your thoughts and experiences in a comment below.
