Fierce Fitness: Stuck in Your Comfort Zone

“We have to be honest about what we want and take risks rather than lie to ourselves and make excuses to stay in our comfort zones” – Ray Bennett.
Are you stuck in a fitness rut? Are you pushing yourself too hard in the gym/studio, but the minute you step on the scales, you don’t’ see any results or feel any different? Sound familiar? Of course, it does.

Getting stuck in your comfort zone is safe and warm. You are so comfortable with your routine; that your body no longer has to work as hard and burn as many calories as possible. Being comfortable could just be holding you back from reaching your full potential – both physically and mentally.

Big question. What now? Simple answer. You are sticking to the same exercise routine repeatedly. It would help if you were challenging your body and continuing to take your workouts to the next level. Just remember that if you are comfortable in your comfort zone, change will never happen. Exercise is about exposing your body to a controlled environment and challenging yourself.

Training

When it comes to exercise, showing up is only half the battle. With each movement you make, you can decide to give it just a bit more or give it all you have. Here is a question for you to think about. How will you know what you are capable of, and how are you supposed to grow or change your mental and physical state if you don’t give it your all or push yourself when exercising.

When I approach this topic with my clients, the following tips I discuss with them.

Switch it up: A lack of drive can sometimes affect your exercise program. If this is you or you seem too stagnant, it is time to switch your exercise routine. This can mean changing the scenery and flow, and it will help you push past the plateaus or self-imposed barriers.

Magic word – NOW: Yes, you know what it is. Tell yourself, ‘I am going to exercise NOW.’ When you continue to put something off, schedule your exercise routine first thing in the morning or after work. You need to make an appointment with yourself.

Start small: These are words I haven written many times in my articles. You need to start your exercise routine in small steps and don’t overcomplicate things. If you want to know how to get
out of your comfort zone, you need to identify a few areas where you can challenge yourself without freaking out and without giving up.

How Do I Get Out of My Comfort Zone?

The first step is to unlock the possibilities, which means finding an exercise program you would enjoy—taking time out and looking at some gyms/studios around your area that offer a variety of exercises. So many places offer a 7-day free trial or 30 days for a small fee. The right gym/studio has lots of programs, and this way, you can trial a spin class, a kickboxing class, bootcamp, strength training, Pilates, and yoga, to name a few.

Adding a little variety to your workouts reduces your risk of injury because you are not doing the same movements all the time and prevents boredom. Also, when you challenge your expectations, you push your body safely beyond your limits.

For example, if you decide to do strength training and are still using the same weight you were six months ago, you are stuck in your comfort zone. The more you overload your muscles and gradually increase weight, you will notice your muscles adapt and become stronger.

So How Do You Get Out of Your Comfort Zone and Make a Change to Increase the Intensity?

Increase the weight. If you started with a 5kg dumbbell– increase it to 7.5kg, and so on.
Increase the number of repetitions without changing the weight. If you were doing 12 repetitions, now do 15 repetitions.
Change the exercises you are doing to work your muscles differently. If you are only working on your biceps, make the change to work on your shoulder blades.
Reduce the rest period between sets. If you have a 20-second rest, reduce it to 15 seconds.

BUT:

What if you want to focus on increasing your endurance, especially if you exercise regularly? Here are some ways to take you out of your comfort zone, improve your stamina and release new potential within yourself.

Change your routine. This means increasing the length or frequency of your exercises.
Add intervals. Instead of taking a long walk, add 30 seconds of jogging every couple of minutes.
Set new fitness goals. Seriously anything is possible, and push yourself further than you have before.

Fun Exercises to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone:

Do you want to have a bit of fun with me? Here are some fun exercises to get you out of your comfort zone:

Trampoline workout: dare to jump and get your heart pumping? This is a low-impact cardio exercise that will improve your balance and coordination. Get outside on your kids’ trampoline and have some fun.
Let it flow: studios are now blending all elements – Pilates, Yoga, Barre into a HIIT workout. The best way to awaken your muscles while looking effortless.
I believe I can fly: I am not talking about learning how to fly a plane, but an empowering pole fitness class. Take your muscles and self-confidence for a spin. This will test your upper and lower body strength, but the best thing is that you will love your body even more.

Get Out:

It is so easy to stay in your comfort zone and hard to push yourself out of one, but you won’t change your body unless you do.

You don’t have to collapse after every workout, but you should feel challenged. You may not feel comfortable doing it, but you will undoubtedly appreciate the rewards of pushing yourself harder than you ever thought possible.

Jo Lastro, Our Expert (Former)

A 1st-Degree Muay Thai Kickboxer and sole owner of Jo’s Fitness Studio. Muay Thai has made Jo stronger, more comfortable in her own skin, and taught her to have faith and trust in herself. She now hopes to inspire, and help others overcome their own obstacles by sharing her expertise in fitness.