Now that you are all in the post-inauguration mindset of change, it’s time to apply the idea to your workouts! It is easy to get stuck in a rut when you’ve found a routine that works for you, but all the best trainers seem to agree that continuing to do the same exercises day in and day out, is not the best approach for achieving optimal results toward your goal of being fit.

We all know logically, that we’d be better off to vary our workouts more than we do, but sometimes it’s hard to push ourselves through the discomfort of change. But think about it this way: Remember that boyfriend in your past you stayed with a little too long out of fear of change? What happened when you finally dumped him and started playing the field for a little while? You met a better dude! Same with your workout regimens! 

Over the holidays I became convinced that it was time to “break up” with my usual workout after I had some training sessions with a personal trainer whose routines threw me for a loop. And it wasn’t  because I wasn’t used to working the same muscle groups that he was helping me train, but rather the exercises were just different enough from what I normally do, that my muscles were easily fatigued by them. 

It was a reminder to me that being “in shape” is quite different than being in good physical condition, which to me, implies strength, great cardiovascular capacity, and speed of recovery after your lungs and muscles are taxed. During my training sessions, I didn’t feel like any of these applied to me! And that is because my muscles were not used to what I was putting them through. 

So, grab onto this new spirit of change that is overtaking the Nation, and apply it to your fitness regimen; (then later, you can apply it to your love life and job situation!)