Ways to Get Out of Your Fitness Comfort Zone

There’s nothing that sounds more boring to me than doing the same things day in and day out without variation. I like to be adventurous with pretty much everything – from the meals I make and the fun activities I partake in, to the workouts I do and even the walking and hike routes I go on with my dog. I think, Walking the same exact path every single day? How blah! 

I find that switching things up keeps life interesting, and also sometimes scary and exciting. Don’t let fear of the unknown freak you out…. Scary and exciting is a good thing!

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I suppose I could talk a good amount about comfort zones in general. I’m a girl who landed a freelance journalist gig for a newspaper after randomly contacting the editor and telling him that I’d be a great writer for him… with no experience in that type of journalism whatsoever. I had little idea what I was doing (which I can say now that I’ve since moved and am no longer working there!), but I pushed myself to go for it and you know what? It was a challenging and fun experience.

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But I digress, because today I’m talking about getting out of your comfort zone specifically when it comes to fitness.

I’ve come to realize that while I do many different forms of exercise, I’m not exactly a seasoned expert in any of them in particular. My form in some yoga poses is probably nowhere near correct; I don’t tuck my hips under enough in barre; while I love to hike, I’m no Everest climber; and the instructor kept correcting my form in a boxing class last week.

But I also realized that that’s fine with me, because I feel that I’m consistently pushing myself out of my comfort zone and trying things that I may or may not be great at, yet I’m having fun and staying active. Who cares if I look like a momo hitting tennis balls completely out of bounds half the time (true story)? Getting out of my fitness comfort zone keeps my body sore and my mind interested.

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And so, here are some ways that you can push yourself beyond your fitness comfort zone:

1.) Head outdoors! I find that getting outside for a workout tends to be a lot of fun and an instant mood booster. There are tons of options, whether you choose to go hiking, white water rafting or mountain biking in the warmer months, or snowshoeing or skiing in snowy weather. If you do it with a partner, it also provides an experience to bond with your significant other, friend or family member.

2.) Buy a Groupon or LivingSocial fitness deal. This is a great way to try a new fitness craze or workout facility on the cheap. Since I’m new to my area, I have yet to join a gym, so I recently bought a 5-class pass to try some workouts at a fitness studio. Last week was my first boxing group class in awhile, and this evening a girlfriend of mine and I went to a cycling class that whooped our butts. I also want to try a TRX class, which is something I haven’t tried yet! 

3.) Take a page from the fitness mags. Sometimes I rip out workouts from magazines like Women’s Health, Fitness, and Shape to try out. Sometimes I’ll learn new moves that I wind up incorporating into a lot of future workouts, sometimes they’re totally cooky exercises, but either way I’ve tried something different.

4.) Check out local fitness events. Chances are there are workout events happening near you that you may enjoy but don’t even know about. Keep your eyes open around town, do some Googling, and read local magazines or newspapers to find events that you can participate in. A 5K run/walk for a good cause is one good example. A few days ago I discovered that there are beach yoga classes near me that happen a few times a week. You better believe I’ll be attending one of those classes soon!

5.) Take that class you always see going on. If you do belong to a gym and often see a group class taking place that you’re skeptical to try, just go for it! It could be a great way to switch up your routine and even make some gym buddies.

6.) Try new machines and equipment. Hop on one of those machines you feel intimidated by at your gym. Don’t be embarrassed to ask a trainer how to properly perform the exercise if you aren’t sure. It’s what they’re there for!

7.) Keep at-home workouts interesting. Just because you’re working out in the comfort of your own home doesn’t mean that you need to stick with the same DVD circa 1990 every week. Buy a new fitness DVD, get heavier weights, check out your On-Demand workout selection, or nab a kettle bell to play around with. If you’re on a tight budget, you can even just find some good YouTube workouts to try. The point is to just try things to switch up your workouts and challenge you!

When was the last time you got out of your fitness comfort zone? Any tips you’d like to add?