There are a range of compelling reasons to change up a fitness routine, from staying motivated to getting better results. The following are some of the top reasons to change up your fitness routine regularly:

Nothing can contribute to a “fitness rut” quite like doing the same routine week after week, month after month. A fitness plateau is just what it sounds like: you’ve stopped getting results. Perhaps you’ve even lost some of your past gains, or put on body fat.

• If you’ve been doing cardio for an hour three times per week for months, it may be time to switch to something else, like circuit training or interval training.
• If you’ve been doing low-rep circuit training for awhile, mix in some workouts with fewer reps and more weight.
• If you’ve been working out religiously indoors, get outdoors and hike, bike, climb, rollerblade, kayak – whatever calls to you.

Even changing up the order of the exercises in your existing routine can help stimulate your body in new ways.

Another compelling reason to change up your routine regularly is to ensure a more comprehensive and complete training of your muscle groups and body. Performing the same motions and routines over and over again may train certain particular groups and motions very well, but it can leave other areas weaker and less engaged.

Training from different angles and in different ways helps to ensure more effective overall muscle training and better results.

Doing the same workout week after week, month after month can lead to another state that is “deadly” to a fitness routine: boredom.

There are few things that can derail a fitness plan faster than becoming bored with what you are doing. You can avoid this fate by changing up your fitness routine regularly, at least every few months. You might even consider using different types of exercise throughout the week to ensure that boredom will not be an issue.

If you never try anything new, you’ll never know if there are other sports, exercises or fitness activities that could be an excellent fit for you. Changing up your fitness routine from time to time just might lead you to a new activity that you love and/or brings you amazing results. Stay open to new fitness routines and workout ideas. Branch out and give them a try!

If you’ve been working out solo for awhile, consider joining in on a group, sports league or class. If you’ve been attending the same aerobics class for months and it’s feeling stale, why not try something different? You’ll meet new people who love staying fit, and you’ll likely learn something new. Expanding your fitness social circle is fun, and you just never know where it might lead.

One of the keys to staying fit and sticking with a workout routine is changing it up from time to time. From keeping motivation high to getting better results, mixing it up can be extremely beneficial. Variety is the spice of life, so be open to trying something new!