Posted on February 19, 2018 by Jenny Cromack
Prior to Christmas I was feeling a lull in my motivation to train and get my backside to the gym. I was becoming tired of constantly going through the same motions, the same exercises, the same set and rep protocols, and generally knowing what was coming from the rigmarole that was my training. My rapidly declining investment in training was having some pretty horrid effects on me mentally. I was becoming a lot more irritable, boxing in my frustrations (as I had no where to vent them), and started to become a little depressed with my body and the way I felt I looked (probably the lack of training). It made me take a new perspective on my training and realise how important it is in keeping your training fresh.
Being a personal trainer means I spend a lot of time constructing programes for a variety of clients and their goals. You would think this was perfect for my own programme design. Maybe for most, but not me lately. I had seen, implemented, and designed so many plans that nothing uplifted me anymore. Nothing excited me or fitted in with my busy lifestyle. Consistency is key when training and achieving our goals, but this doesn’t mean we need to sacrifice an element of variability. I would often find myself at work, or at home, knowing what was coming in my “standard” plan and being less than enthused about having to go and squat 5 sets of 5 reps at 80% max. This meant that I had already pre-planned what I was going to “blob out of” and put little effort into. This was not productive for my goal attainment or motivation.
Keeping Your Training Fresh
Since January I have started using an online app that generates a daily workout, schedules my rest days, and provides alternative scaling options for beginner to advance levels. This offers me an element of surprise, I no longer need to think over my sessions, and have the choice to scale my workout to suit my abilities and needs. These sessions are often high intensity resistance based sessions that are perfect for my need to be in and out of the gym within 30 minutes to an hour. At the click of a button I have my workout pre-planned for me and no session is the same.
I choose not to look at the days workout until I get to the gym, this allows me no time to mull over the session and workout where I may feel horrendous and sweaty. I just go in, open the app, and crack on. The variability, and lack of need to think about what exercises to choose, how many reps to do, or how long my session will be has really boosted my motivation. Additionally, I have found that not worrying about planning my sessions has left a lot of “headspace” for me to focus on more pressing tasks (such as PhD or work tasks).
Why Should You Care?
If you find yourself in a similar place with training why not try a similar online workout generator that provides you with diverse workouts of the day? If this is not for you, when planning your own sessions, or working with your trainer, allow for a couple of days where your sessions are random. Use these sessions as an opportunity to pick the exercises you enjoy, the muscles you like to work, a style of training that “floats your boat”, or simply allow a random selection of new exercises. My recent experiences have altered my perspective of exercise and I have taken the following viewpoints which may generate some food for thought for you.
- Exercise is an important, but only a small part of life, don’t let it rule everything else.
- Tailor your sessions to work for you. There is no recipe for “the ideal” workout. If it doesn’t work in your lifestyle it won’t last, so be creative and selfish.
- Do things you enjoy! Avoid staleness or resentment!
- Everybody loves a surprise. So put some random, variable, and surprise workouts in your plan.
- We do not need to spend 3 hours a day in the gym. More isn’t always better. Smaller, shorter, intense sessions can breed more consistency and they have upped my motivation rather than the long slogs that killed my desire.
- Finally, don’t be afraid to try new things. Don’t get stuck in an exercise cycle of monotony!
Hopefully this article offers you an insight into my struggles, shows you personal trainers are also human and may experience the same ups and downs as you. Additionally, it may hopefully generate some self-reflection and new ideas for your own exercise motivation.