Techniques to Reenergize Your Training

Bored with your workout? Try these tips for reviving your routine.

Whether you’ve just started training or are a conditioned weight crusher, the same routine day in and out will hamper your physical development or—even worse—your motivation. Stay sane and try these five tweaks to get you back to training on a mission.

THE BODY WEIGHT WORKOUT ROUTINE 1

Build every muscle the old-fashioned way—without weights


Whenever someone asks me about body-weight training, I tell them a story: A farm kid tells his dad he wants a weight set. Dad says, “OK, but first you have to do something.” Dad ties a rope to the high rafters in their barn. He tells his son, “When you can climb to the top and back down 10 times, I’ll buy you a weight set.” By the time the kid is able to do it 10 times, he’s in such amazing shape that he no longer wants (or needs) the weights. Body-weight training builds strength and muscle as well or better than lifting. Your body was designed to run, jump, crawl, and climb. Train with these four types of movement, and—like the kid in the story—you can build the body you’ve always wanted, too.

Best No-Weight Workout Ever

Use elastic bands at home, on the road, or simply to mix up your training routine

 You've seen those oversize rubber bands in the gym. You scoffed and headed for the weights like some arrogant bastard. Well, guess what? Bands are great for building muscle or shedding pounds. Unlike free weights, they offer variable resistance, adding more tension as they're stretched. They're also a great tool for using at home or for staying fit on the road.