Easy Way to Change Your Weight Training Exercises
© Tina Anderson, http://flirtingwithfitness.com
All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
If you’re anywhere near my age or someone who needs a lot of variety, getting bored with your workouts can become a problem. The good news, changing your routine in the weight room is not that hard to do, although I don’t see it happen enough and it’s one of the reasons clients hire me. Why? Because, we are creatures of habit and tend to do what’s comfortable and familiar. Because, we walk into the gym without a plan. Because, we’re tired from all the other to-do’s we deal with or we just get a little complacent. And, because we are overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. Take a look at the picture below. I just gifted you with nine new exercises. That’s right. Survey says, just change your bar or handle. That small change is still something new to your muscles and to your mind and to the connection between the two of them. A wide grip verses the D-ring verses the rope. They all provide different approaches and varying results. You hit the muscles differently. And, not to get too complicated, but you can even change your grips on some of these and get yet another layer of change.
Unless your facility has a policy, change out your handles and bars.
Don’t make it complicated in the gym. Use adequate resistance. Get out of breath. Feel your muscles work. Work hard enough to need to recover and give your workout at least a few minutes of prep time. There is much more to this, such as higher or lower reps, more or less recovery time; pyramids, stacking and on and on. For now, change out those handles and bars for your rows and pull-downs; for your triceps and those guns and even for chest work. Use them on different machines and with the cables if you’re allowed. Mix them in with your free weights. I bet you’ll wake up with a little soreness in new areas. Time to rock and row, baby!
Certified through ACE and AFAA and possessing a number of specialty fitness certifications, Tina Anderson started teaching group fitness in 1985 and has coordinated or consulted for over 15 group fitness programs, served as a master trainer and coordinator for Star Trac Fitness and their Precision Cycling Program, completed project work with major corporations and on international projects, presented as a guest speaker and maintained her personal training business throughout. As a fitness author, Tina's articles often appear in national and international fitness publications. 
