By Alex Baran,
Project Weight Loss editor
July 16, 2007If you feel you`re not in top condition despite exercising regularly, maybe you need to change your workout routine. You may overcome roadblocks by changing the exercises in your workout, or alternating your workouts, according to Andrea Sprik, a personal trainer.
You may combine weight-bearing exercise such as walking, dancing, stair climbing, or jogging with strength training. Lifting weights helps enhance the metabolism and so you burn more calories even when you`re resting, said Sprik.
Women shouldn`t avoid lifting weights. They usually don’t grow excess muscle mass and become bulky, because of their low levels of testosterone. However, you can prevent excessive muscle growth by having more repetitions and less weight in your exercises.
You may want to consider adding other exercises to your workouts to avoid boredom.
For instance, swimming improves your flexibility, endurance, cardiovascular condition, posture, and muscle strength. Swimming works especially for your shoulder, back, abs, and leg muscles.
A great workout for your legs, joints, gluts, and quads is riding the bike. Leg muscles can also be strengthened by jogging. Elliptical machines offer a large variety of exercises that may take the pressure off your joints.
You may achieve a great cardio workout before you know it. For instance, climbing the stairs while carrying some weight is a good way to burn calories. Or, you can boost your coordination, burn calories, and add fun to your workout by doing aerobics.
Pilates and yoga are good exercises for the stronger, core muscles of the back. Those exercises also offer more flexibility to your abs.
A good workout should last for at least thirty minutes. You may include weight lifting for up to three times per week, and then allow your muscles to rest. Whenever you feel certain exercises are too easy, it’s time to increase their intensity or difficulty.
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