How to use overload to super charge an exercise routine
An exercise routine is a very important part of the day. However, it’s tough to squeeze into the schedule sometimes. Between work, errands, and everything else the average person tries to manage in a single day, there’s hardly time for lunch. Not to mention an exercise routine.
In fact, anyone with an exercise routine, congratulations, way to hustle! With this in mind, it’s important to note that this article is not exercise advice. Furthermore, it’s important to check with a doctor before beginning any strenuous physical activity. That is a disclaimer. It is necessary. Now back to the benefits of exercise.
Exercise is most beneficial when it is consistent. It’s good to get exercise but it’s best on a regular basis. For example, a daily walk outside. Between the fresh air, and the movement, the benefits are many. It’s possible to do a search and find all sorts of positive things about a daily walk. However the key word there is daily. A walk is nice. And healthy. But it’s best when done consistently.
The Super Charge in an Exercise Routine
It’s possible to get used to the walk. In fact, it could get boring. Especially if walking on a track. The same scenery, lap after lap. The same speed and the same shoes. Consistency might be good but it can get boring after a while. Furthermore, the incredibly good results that were so evident at first, don’t seem to be happening now.
After a few more sessions in this mindset, it might be easier to take a day off. Or two. Maybe get back to it later. However, that usually ends in a schedule change to opt out of the exercise. Besides, it was getting boring. And it quit working. While it’s true, that something quit working, it was likely not the exercise. And what is a treadmill anyway? Other than the same thing over and over again. Not even one hill, to make things interesting.
In fact, without some variety and overload now and then, exercise loses its potency. The idea of progressive overload is a training strategy used by body builders, and athletes, in just about every category. It can also be applied at the most basic levels of exercise. Moreover it is one way to super charge the exercise routine. No matter how routine or minimal the exercise.
How to Use some overload
None of the ideas expressed in this article are advice. They are ideas and personal observations from experience. For example, walking is good. It is a form of exercise. Walking up a hill, is still the same exercise, only it is now more difficult. It is reasonable to calculate that there will be additional benefits to the increased difficulty of the walk up the hill. It’s like getting two personal trainers for the same imaginary money.
This is progressive overload at play. This is additional exercise for free! Who doesn’t like getting something for free? This concept is also a strength training strategy for the more advanced training hobbyist. However, careful adjustment and thorough research, is a best practice.
With this in mind, it’s also a best practice to start small with adjustments to an exercise routine. For example, walk up the small hill first. If that feels too easy look for a slightly larger hill. The idea is to increase the difficulty. It doesn’t have to be by much, to be effective. Even something like deliberately walking faster for an extended period of time, is effective. The change up is an excellent way to super charge an exercise routine. Thanks for reading.
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