Is constantly changing up your workout routine a good idea?
I will answer this question with a little story about my son Axel.
As you know, last week was Valentine’s Day, lots of chocolate. As such, Axel needed to write down all his classmates names into their individual cards. Axel is 5, but he still in preschool and he really doesn’t enjoy writing his own name, much less his classmates names.
As such, Beth broke down this card writing process into tiny little repetitive steps. Beth had Axel write down five names, on five different cards, once a day, every day, until he had finished. If Beth had changed up the process it would have been chaos and anarchy. The first time they did this it took about 15 minutes and there was some crying and gnashing of teeth. But on day three and four it took under 5 minutes. Axel learned and adapted to the process, but it took time.
Did you think at Axel’s preschool they randomly do things? Or do they progressively make things more difficult over time and introducing new concepts once the kids have mastered the foundation stuff?
It wouldn’t make any sense for Axel to show up to school and try to learn his times tables before he knew how to count. Nor would it make sense to give him a book to read when he doesn’t know the alphabet. In the same vein, it wouldn’t do much good if they did the ABC song once and then didn’t repeat until the end of they year. All those kids need repetition to develop, learn, and grow.
Just like you ;-)!
When you are trying to improve your body by losing weight, you should be trying to do two things primarily.
One, you should be trying to building muscle. Two, you should be trying to get stronger.
If those two things aren’t happening, chances are you’re just spinning your wheels. Plus, for those two things to happen, you need the right exercises and movements (compound movements), you need Progressive Overload (getting stronger over a period of time), you need to eat correctly and you need to rest appropriately, that one is almost always overlooked.
Your workout routine should be focused on compound movements that are consistent for a period of 4 to 6 weeks. Anything less and your body never really has a reason to adapt and any more and your body will slow down its adaption. Here’s the thing, it takes your body at least 4 weeks to about 6 weeks to adapt to stimulus.
After 4 to 6 weeks of doing the same routine, yes, it is a good idea to change that routine up. However, changing your routine up from day-to-day just for the sake of you getting bored is kind of immature. You need a consistent workout routine so that you can can reap systematic growth and improvement.
Where is an example of a 30 minute workout for you. The goal would be to perform this same workout 2 – 3 times a week (M, W, F) for at least 4 to 6 weeks while bumping up the weight or reps you use. At the end of phase, you will be fitter and stronger.
Workout A
A1. DB Goblet Squat 3X10-12 reps
A2. DB One Arm Row 3X10-12 reps
B1. DB Step Ups 3X10-12 reps each leg
B2. DB Bench Press 3X10-12 reps
C1. Side Planks 3X20 – 30 seconds a side
C2. Pallof Press 3X30 seconds a side
Finisher: 4 Rounds:
Assault Bike 60 seconds, MAX Effort, followed by 90 seconds rest. Repeat 4 times.
Go be awesome,
Kellen Lake – The term “routine” implies repetition ;-).
PS – I am down 10 lbs as of writing this ;-). From 237.5 to 227, 90% of my meals have been Just 4 You Meals, so simple and easy a trainer like me could do it, lol. Order at www.just4youmeals.com .
