{"id":2675,"date":"2017-02-28T16:59:52","date_gmt":"2017-02-28T21:59:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integrativemovement.com\/?p=2675"},"modified":"2017-02-28T20:15:21","modified_gmt":"2017-03-01T01:15:21","slug":"a-workout-secret","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integrativemovement.com\/a-workout-secret\/","title":{"rendered":"A Workout Secret"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written\u00a0By Lara Gillease<\/em><\/p>\n

I hear this from clients regularly: “I just started doing this new workout routine and I am finally going to get in shape.”<\/p>\n

I see the dreamy look in their eyes as though they have found the perfect exercise routine that will help them achieve what they always knew was possible for them.<\/p>\n

Have you ever done this? Found and started doing a workout that you feel good doing, feel great afterward and can tell you are reaping big benefits?<\/p>\n

Ah, you finally found it! The exercise routine of your dreams.<\/strong><\/span> You\u2019re going to finally achieve the strength, flexibility, range of motion, great posture, and the toned, svelte look you always dreamed of. You always knew this was possible. And now you know what to do.<\/p>\n

So every day for 30 minutes, you are going to repeat this very routine. And make your fitness dreams a reality.<\/p>\n

Maybe you set your alarm for 5 am to make sure you do it first thing or maybe you do it after work.<\/p>\n

And you stick with it. But after a few weeks, instead of feeling exhilarated and like you are very close to realizing your goal, you are feeling so bored that you don’t know how much longer you can take it.<\/p>\n

You also don\u2019t even feel like you are getting much benefit anymore. And you are starting to dread doing it.<\/p>\n

Do you wonder what happened to those feel-good sensations and post workout benefits that you had initially?<\/em><\/p>\n

Your expectations are just not getting met anymore.<\/strong> <\/span>It worked so great initially, why not now?<\/p>\n

Guess what? There\u2019s a reason.\u00a0And it has to do with your brain and habits and learning.<\/em><\/p>\n

You see, once you (and your brain) gets used to doing something a certain way, it becomes a habit. Meaning you have memorized the way you do it.<\/p>\n

So you are now doing your\u00a0memorization<\/em>\u00a0of the exercise<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

This means that you are not available (and your brain\u2019s not available) to be present to the YOU NOW.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s so bad about that?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, it\u2019s really the novelty, the newness and the freshness that creates the next level of fitness \u2014 for your body and, you guessed it \u2014 for your brain.<\/p>\n

Once you get used to it, this means your brain is also used to it. And your muscles are used to it. Then your improvement plateaus.<\/p>\n

You have basically squeezed every last drop of improvement<\/strong><\/span> that you could get out of that routine. And guess what?<\/p>\n

That routine of your dreams can\u2019t take you to the next level.<\/p>\n

You see, the mistake you are making is in assuming it is THE routine \u2014 the exact moves or exercises \u2014 and maybe even the\u00a0order you are doing them in \u2014 that is giving you the benefits and feel-good sensations.<\/p>\n

But really, it was the newness of it.<\/p>\n

The newness of the routine called upon you and actually demanded from you, to move in a way you hadn\u2019t moved recently or possibly ever. So initially your muscles were able to get stronger, your range of motion and flexibility were able to improve. But that stopped when it was no longer new for you.<\/p>\n

Also, when something\u00a0is new and different, we are interested in it. And we are more likely to notice and pay attention to our experience while we are doing it. This means your brain is actively involved. (In neuroscience terms, your brain is making new connections.)<\/p>\n

So how can you stop plateauing and instead, continually increase and improve your fitness level?<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n