10 ways to revive your workouts

6. Invite Mother Nature to your workout
Whether it's a walk in the park, a hike in the mountain, or a bike ride around the lake, it all counts as fitness. When you choose the great outdoors as your playground, you get the benefits of fresh air, great scenery (and/or people watching), and the freedom to change exercise venues with each workout. Check out local hiking or walking clubs. If water is your thing, look up canoe or kayak clubs. Recreational cycling and mountain biking are also fabulous ways to get fit outdoors. The options are endless. Whether it's winter or summer, Mother Nature really knows how to motivate!

7. Dress for success
Fitness shouldn't be all about fashion, but feeling good should be a major part of your workout plans. When was the last time you bought yourself a new outfit to exercise in? Although many of us would rather get those strappy new heels or the smart jacket that goes so well with our favourite jeans, a new exercise top and matching pants can go a long way to making your workouts exciting again. Today's breathable fabrics and fun colours mean fitness fashion can also take you straight to that coffee date afterwards. If you're heading to the gym in your oversized T-shirt and the same old boring shorts, go shopping -- then go to the gym.

8. Erase and replace
Sometimes it is necessary to wipe the slate clean of everything you've been doing. If you've established a standard program or been attending the same classes for a long period of time (greater than four to six continuous weeks), give your body a new challenge. Over time, your body adapts to exercise -- you get stronger, the exercise gets easier and, if you don't change your routine or increase your intensity, your body becomes more efficient and burns less calories per workout. That's usually when results start to slow down, an exercise plateau shows up, and motivation leaves. Avoid the plateau by changing your routine (even slightly) on a regular basis. A personal trainer can be of great help.

9. Fuel the fire
Many people say they have no energy for exercise or that they complete their workouts and then have nothing left to get through the rest of the day. If this sounds familiar, as yourself: "Am I eating enough?" Give your body a nutritional treat within the first 30 to 60 minutes after your workout. During this time frame, your body is a sponge that's ready to suck up nutrients for growth and energy replenishment. Post workout is NOT the time to deprive your body of fuel in favour of calorie-burning. The energy boost you'll feel after refuelling with a healthy snack will not only make your workouts more enjoyable, the calories will be put to good use -- building and maintaining strong machinery for the next workout.

10. Exercise recovery
When it's all said and done, exercise is important, but recovery after the workout is essential. That means giving your body adequate rest each night, proper amounts of food and hydration between workouts, and enough rest between workouts. Give yourself at least 24 hours between cardiovascular workouts (running, walking, cycling), and sometimes you may need as much as 48 hours of rest (or more) per muscle group with strength workouts. If your life is fast-paced and stressful, opt for lower-intensity workouts until the chaos subsides.

Find out which 5 pieces of fitness equipment you should add to your workout.

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