Quote:
Originally Posted by sourpuss
You're doing the right things. If you're not losing weight then you may need to change your diet and maybe adjust your workouts a bit. I've found that if I do the same thing day after day my body adapts and I need to change it up.
|
This is true, google HIIT for more detailed info - but basically our bodies do adjust to our routine so changing it up is a good idea. Plus, our bodies even adapt when we exercise at an unchanging, consistent pace, so changing it up throughout the routine is helpful (which where HIIT comes in: high intensity interval training). I was killing myself for more than 2 years running hard and fast every day (4 miles: just under a 7.5 min mile pace) until I started reading about HIIT (and it was recommended to me by a PT). Now I've reduced the time I spend exercising and I don't have to go full speed the whole time; I simply alternate between a sprint and a slower pace every 30-60 seconds so that my body doesn't have time to adjust to either speed. I'm still able to run just as fast so I didn't lose any ability, and what's more is that my body has gotten a bit curvier and more shapely (I now look more like a hottie instead of a marathon runner
)
I've also read recently about the idea of HIIT for food: changing up our caloric intake every other day can also keep our body guessing and working hard. As we all know, if we restrict caloric intake too much, our bodies begin to shut down and greatly reduce the rate at which we burn calories in an attempt to hold on to nutrients. So alternating caloric intake every other day (within reason, don't go too little or too much) may be helpful too.