Ever logged countless hours at the gym and still the scale won’t budge? I’ve stared down that plateau before. For weeks, I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t progressing, until I zeroed in on six easy-to-miss factors that prevented me from seeing results.
1. I zoned out
I love reading a magazine while peddling away on the elliptical, but I found myself more focused on the latest celebrity gossip than my actual workout. When I realized that 20 minutes had passed and I hadn’t even broken a sweat, I knew it was time to change the way I exercised. Now, instead of zoning out, I incorporate intervals into my elliptical workout. I alternate between speeds and resistances. One of my favorite elliptical workouts changes the resistance on the machine every 1 to 2 minutes, which pushes me to work hard for the entire 30-minute duration. Similarly, when running on the treadmill, I pick up the pace by 1 mph during the commercials.
2. I planned my weekend (via text message)
I used to see the Stairmaster as the perfect place to work and play at the gym. I texted my friends and broke a sweat at the same time. If I put the machine at a slow and steady pace, my hands (and thumbs) were free to see what my friends were up to or plan out my weekend. Looking back on these workouts, I could have worked a lot harder if I had put down my phone! Now, I utilize my iPod to motivate myself through my workouts.
3. I chewed gum
I’m a big gum chewer, so I didn’t see anything wrong with popping a piece before starting my cardio workout. I didn’t realize that the act of chewing gum prevented me from moving faster. My brain couldn’t seem to do both things simultaneously. When I stopped chewing gum during my workouts, I was able to put more of my energy into pushing myself to go faster and farther. And I cut down my risk of choking—an obvious plus.
Next page: I couldn’t hear myself breathing
