Tips to Avoid Exercise Burnout

The beginning of a new year brings tons of resolutions.  Weight loss often tops the list as a reachable goal.  In order to reach this goal, it might be surprising to know that moderation is key.  Exercise burnout can cause the most committed person to end their workout routine and give up their weight loss goals, but it does not have to be that way.  Consistency in scheduling your exercise time is important, but so is variety.

To avoid exercise burnout follow these tips:

• Start out slowly.  In the beginning take your time getting used to the workout.  Exercise for 20 minutes and work your way up to the desired amount of time you would like to exercise.
• Mix it up.  Change your workout completely every 8-12 weeks.  This gives you something to look forward to as you reach your exercise goals.
• Do a different workout on alternating days.  The same workout can get boring when it is repeated everyday.  I love the beachbody workouts for this reason: there is so much to choose from. 
• Recurring injuries may be a sign that you are exercising too much.  When injuries occur, take a break from doing the exercise that caused the injury.  Give your body a chance to heal.  Find a different way to exercise that muscle group.
• Try something unique every 3 months.  You may find a new exercise to include into your routine.
• Every 3-6 months take a week off.  This allows you to regenerate the energy you need to continue your workouts, and it is a reward for reaching your workout goals.