It's that time of year again when the skies grow dark early, and the snow starts to fall. Winter can be the most difficult time of the year to stay fit, not only because it hosts the triumphant of overeating - Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, but also because exercise options are often limited to indoor gyms.
Lack of motivation and boredom are common at this time of year. One reason is that gym goers tend to use the exercise machines they feel most comfortable with, which quickly leads to stagnation. Many people the same handful of fitness machines at a gym over and over and wonder why their results have slacked off.
That's why winter is the perfect time to jazz up an exercise routine, and one of the best ways to do this is to try new exercise machines. Most large gyms boast several different machines that work the same muscles but in slightly different ways. For example, you can work your biceps with a lat pull down machine, a pull up assistant machine or arm curls using free weights. If you only ever use free weights, try the pull up machine. You'll be amazed at how quickly your muscles begin to burn, because you're working them out using a slightly different motion. This recruits different motor units and works out your muscles in a different way.
Using different exercise machines is a great way to challenge your body and avoid hitting a plateau. Using new exercise equipment will also keep your exercise routines interesting and fun. Never tried a stair stepper? Give it a whirl. If you are ever unsure of how to use a particular machine, a gym employee will be happy to show you how. Don't ever feel embarrassed by not knowing how a machine works, and never let that stop you from trying new exercises. Everyone had to start somewhere, and employees would much rather you ask and learn the correct way to use a piece of equipment then guess and injure yourself.
So, next time you head to your gym, take a moment and look around. Notice all the different pieces of fitness equipment, especially the ones you've never used. Read the labels on the machines that explain what muscles they work, and watch how other people use them. Now, give it a try!
Before you know it, you'll feel comfortable using every machine in the gym from treadmills to elliptical trainers to free weights and circuit equipment. You'll find that you have a lot of different choices each time you walk into the gym, and this will keep you interested and motivated to keep moving towards your ultimate fitness goals.
Lack of motivation and boredom are common at this time of year. One reason is that gym goers tend to use the exercise machines they feel most comfortable with, which quickly leads to stagnation. Many people the same handful of fitness machines at a gym over and over and wonder why their results have slacked off.
That's why winter is the perfect time to jazz up an exercise routine, and one of the best ways to do this is to try new exercise machines. Most large gyms boast several different machines that work the same muscles but in slightly different ways. For example, you can work your biceps with a lat pull down machine, a pull up assistant machine or arm curls using free weights. If you only ever use free weights, try the pull up machine. You'll be amazed at how quickly your muscles begin to burn, because you're working them out using a slightly different motion. This recruits different motor units and works out your muscles in a different way.
Using different exercise machines is a great way to challenge your body and avoid hitting a plateau. Using new exercise equipment will also keep your exercise routines interesting and fun. Never tried a stair stepper? Give it a whirl. If you are ever unsure of how to use a particular machine, a gym employee will be happy to show you how. Don't ever feel embarrassed by not knowing how a machine works, and never let that stop you from trying new exercises. Everyone had to start somewhere, and employees would much rather you ask and learn the correct way to use a piece of equipment then guess and injure yourself.
So, next time you head to your gym, take a moment and look around. Notice all the different pieces of fitness equipment, especially the ones you've never used. Read the labels on the machines that explain what muscles they work, and watch how other people use them. Now, give it a try!
Before you know it, you'll feel comfortable using every machine in the gym from treadmills to elliptical trainers to free weights and circuit equipment. You'll find that you have a lot of different choices each time you walk into the gym, and this will keep you interested and motivated to keep moving towards your ultimate fitness goals.
