How to Get Out of a Workout Rut

Bored with exercise? Get a fresh start with a new workout.

    If you've been doing the same exercises as part of the same fitness routine — using the same old machines, taking the same classes, and doing the same repetitions — for ages, you might be in a workout rut. If you just aren't enjoying workouts any more or aren't getting the same satisfaction or results you used to enjoy, it might be time for a makeover.

Your Fitness Routine: Spice Up Your Workout

    If you're forcing yourself to go to the health club and watching the clock during a workout or cutting out a little early (or avoiding the gym altogether), it may be time to try a new fitness routine before you give up.

If you're already trying ways to switch things up — such as bringing along a friend, listening to music, or watching TV — and it's the workout you're bored with, try these suggestions:

• Work with a personal trainer. If you feel like your fitness routine isn't working any more, or you're at a loss for ideas on how to incorporate new moves into your routine, take a few sessions with a personal trainer. Trainers can help you come up with new exercises that can be both fun and effective.
• Take a break from the gym. You can still get a good workout without going to a gym. If the weather is nice, look for outdoor opportunities for exercise. Play tennis, golf, go for a hike, walk or run outside, or go swimming at a local pool.
• Try a new exercise class. If you've been exercising on your own on machines or a track, try taking a class. Many gyms offer a variety to choose from, such as spinning, kickboxing, yoga, or fitness boot camp. Look around town for other fitness centers that interest you; yoga or martial arts studios usually offer a number of classes as well.

Your Fitness Routine: Adjusting Your Workout for New Results

    If you feel like you’re not getting the results you want, that’s another sign that you may need to tweak your fitness routine. Being consistent and doing exercises correctly are important. “If people are consistent, that’s the most important thing — and if they’re doing the exercises correctly,” says Jody Swimmer, an exercise specialist and owner of a gym in Louisville. “Then they’ll have benefits. But they would have more benefits if they mixed up the exercises and the intensity.”

    Increasing the intensity of your workout has its benefits, but Swimmer warns against making it too challenging, either mentally or physically. And if you still think you're not accomplishing what you need to with your workout, consider getting help. “Then it’s time to hire a trainer,” Swimmer says.

Your Fitness Routine: How to Tell if It’s Working

    Whether you banish workout boredom or fine-tune your fitness routine for better results, the bottom line is that you know a routine is successful if you feel good. "If you feel better when you leave than when you came in the door, then it's a successful program," says Swimmer.

    If you're feeling frustrated and bored at the gym, don't give up on exercise. Find new fitness routines that you enjoy and look forward to, and stick with them. Always try to keep workouts new and exciting, so you won’t fall into a workout rut.