Fit for a Change

When it comes to your workout, is your routine becoming a rut? While a consistent program helps you stay committed and on track, if you're doing the same thing over and over, you could get bored or burned out.

Occasionally changing your workouts will renew your interest in exercise and can even help you through a weight-loss plateau. Here's how to take your fitness routine and kick it up a notch with just a few small changes.

• New cardio exercises can be invigorating and keep you motivated.
  If you're always on the treadmill, try the rowing machine instead. If you've been swimming laps, consider signing up for a water aerobics class.
• Tired of gym workouts?
  Try various videos or DVDs at home instead. At home, you can try a variety of different workouts in privacy. From kickboxing to belly dancing, videos are an inexpensive way to experience new and different exercises.
• If you love to walk, simply take a different route.
  Break up the routine. If your physician approves, add more hills for a more intense walking workout.
• Change resistance exercises to challenge your muscles.
  Every four to six weeks, consider changing the type or level of your resistance — whether using machines, dumbbells, cables, tubing, or just your own body weight.

Even small changes such as adding music, recruiting an exercise buddy, or hiring a personal trainer can offer interesting new challenges to keep you on the right track for fitness.