Why you should challenge yourself during exercise
CHALLENGING yourself during a workout can be tiresome, difficult and time-consuming, but it is necessary. Fitness coach Rohan Gordon says the more intense the workout, the better the results will be — both physically and mentally. While on your fitness journey, it is very important to push yourself past your comfort zone to achieve the goals you set.
What happens when you do not challenge yourself?
• It takes a longer time for you to get fit.
•It might seem as if you are not losing weight because of the slow process.
• You give up easily because results are slow.
• You can become too comfortable with your routine and will not put much effort into it anymore.
• Your body will get used to the routine and after a while will not be as effective.
• Not challenging yourself can limit the benefits you get from exercising.
Gordon says his clients have given various excuses on occasion as to why they can’t challenge themselves. They mainly complain about time, tiring easily, and health conditions. But he says he finds ways to get them to push themselves.
“People who complain about time should utilise whatever space they have, wherever they are. There are appropriate exercises that can be done at work, that do not require a lot of exertion,” he said.
For those who might have respiratory problems, he advises them to get clearance from their doctors, after which the trainer will design a unique routine that will not put them at risk. If the issue is that you tire easily, he encourages you to listen to upbeat music as this is entertaining and helps to pass the time.
So:
• Keep a to-do list and tick each move/routine as you do them. Seeing your progress can motivate you to do more.
• Switch up your exercise routine to include both slow and fast-paced exercises. If you walked for 10 minutes one day, do some skipping the next day. This can help get rid of boredom which can cause you to lose interest.
• Slowly increase your workout time.
• Exercise with a partner or group at your level, with similar interests. This way you will not feel intimidated because others around you are well advanced and are seeing better results.
