Bring Buzz Back to your Strength Training

PLAY Bring Buzz Back TO YOUR STRENGTH TRAINING

Many gym rats absolutely love strength training, especially lifting weights, to push their bodies toward and past their limits. Pushing your muscles to that point of exhaustion that lets you know you’ve given it your all and reached your latest goal is all many people are looking for.

But this sounds, well, exhausting to those who have never tried it and those who have been at it a while and gotten a little burned out.

Weightlifting isn’t as direct a route to an endorphin high as running or other aerobic exercises and you can pretty much count on hurting a little bit by the time you’re done.

But there are many ways you can inject excitement into your workouts, propelling yourself toward your goal, whether it’s to get the minimum two days of strength training done per week or to benchpress 350 pounds.

ABOUT THOSE ENDORPHINS

If you aren’t experiencing a “weightlifter’s high” and want to make it a reality, it’s possible you need to push yourself a little harder. That endorphin rush happens when our bodies are under stress, and your routine may not be taxing enough to get those hormones flowing to your brain. It could be that you’re not lifting at your capacity, or your workout has become so rote that you need to change it up a bit. Adding some bursts of cardio can help.

ADDING VARIETY

Injecting a tired workout routine or schedule with new exercises or even classes will add intrigue as you teach mind and body the new way of doing things. Find a new personal trainer or instructor if you feel stuck and your current guru isn’t able to help you get past your plateau. Just make sure you keep some level of consistency in your overall training program.

DITCH THE WEIGHTS

If you’ve tried lifting weights, anywhere from 3-pound dumbbells on up, and just don’t enjoy it you can always turn to bodyweight or resistance training to build your strength. Pushups, squats, planks, resistanceband modified versions of popular lifts and the like are just as good for you.