The infamous workout routine rut is among the top reasons why thousands of frustrated exercisers everywhere don’t get very good results from their workouts and eventually give up and quit exercising. A workout rut is when your workout routine becomes so boring, predictable, and un-stimulating to your nervous system that your brain and body halt progress. The best way to break free from an exercise routine that isn’t working is to troubleshoot and address your workout rut causing issues.

Workout Rut Issue #1: Fear
A workout rut usually involves some level of fear of the unknown. People are afraid of how they’ll look or what people will think and say about them when trying new exercises or workouts. Some are afraid of pain, discomfort of any kind, or having to deal with new situations. Fear is the reason why so many people continue doing exercises that are clearly not working and workouts that are uninspiring. Break free workout tip: Commit to making one small change every 4 weeks. It can be as small as using a different type of resistance i.e. sandbell instead of dumbbell or bodyweight cardio instead of machine cardio. Focus on something doable and stick with it for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks keep or discard that change and try something else. This alone can result in 8 pounds of weightloss in 4 weeks vs. no pounds of weightloss again!

Workout Rut Issue #2: Laziness
Breaking out of a workout rut takes work. It involves researching new exercises, learning new workout moves, practicing new skills or adopting a new mindset about your body. Breaking out of a rut is like a part time job that most can’t be bothered doing. It’s the reason personal trainers and bootcamp trainers are employed and making great money. The problem is not everybody can afford a trainer or a bootcamp. Break free workout tip: Subscribe to one great workout blog and visit weekly for inspiration, ideas, or work out tips about what’s new and what’s working for others. Research studies have found that hanging out with other motivated losers and exercisers boosts fitness and fatloss results.

Workout Rut Issue #3: Mis-information
The most disturbing of all workout rut issues is hanging on to bad information i.e. "so and so said that doing 1000 daily crunches and running 2 miles a day = flat sexy abs" or "eating ___ food every hour on the hour while hula hooping to the oldies has been found to make people lose 100 pounds in 3 weeks". Excuse the sarcasm but the fact is most people hold on to very outdated exercise info that prevents them from seeking out solutions. Break free workout tip: Write down any exercise info that you know isn’t working and get busy finding better information then implementing it to get results. Takes work, might be scary but the pay off will amaze you!

Break free from your boring workout routine with new exercises and fun new workouts from The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises: Four Weeks to a Leaner, Sexier, Healthier YOU!