Stick with a workout routine for four weeks, and you will see a difference, says Chad Krisher, a personal trainer at Cooper Fitness Center. Then it’s time to mix things up. It can be as simple as lifting slightly heavier weights during your strength training routine or adding a yoga or Pilates class. Continue to challenge yourself every four weeks so you won’t hit a plateau. Plus you’ll avoid the boredom that can come with doing the same routine every time you work out. Chad suggests this budget-friendly idea: Meet with a trainer to help you set up a routine; then meet only once a month so the trainer can help you add something new or adjust your workout.
Van Chaplin
Here are the three DVDs I use most often
- Bryan Kest’s Power Yoga Complete Collection―This DVD includes three yoga programs, from beginner to advanced. These are fast-paced sessions for those who like a more vigorous form of yoga. Kest emphasizes the importance of breathing calmly even through the most difficult poses. Isn’t that what life is all about?
- The Firm Aerobic Body Shaping―Part of The Firm’s Transfirmer Series, this DVD makes use of 6- and 8-inch platforms that can be stacked or set up in an incline position. As you become stronger, incorporate weights and then slowly increase them for continued results.
- The Firm Supercharged Sculpting―This workout is just 39 minutes long so it’s great when I don’t have as much time or I want to mix things up a bit. It is also part of The Firm’s Transfirmer Series. The DVD includes a bonus stretching session that feels oh-so-good when your muscles feel tight.
