I've been working out, but it is not challenging anymore?

Question

I have been working out at Curves for the past year and a half. I have been getting my heart rate up to 85% and then they tell me that if I get it up higher than 85% and I have recently done 90-95% that it is burning muscle and fat and burning muscle is bad. So sometimes they tell me to slow down, but I don't want to slow down and need to get in better shape. They also tell me that if I work out more than 30 minutes a day it might be hurtng me instead of helping me. Is that true? My Curves workout is usually 40 minutes a day with my heart rate between 85-95%, but I am not feeling challenged anymore. Could someone please tell me what I should do to tone and lose weight. P.S. -In the past 2 weeks I have lost 4 lbs and 3.5 inches, but know it could be better. HELP!!!!!!! Does anyone have any advice I am confused??

Answer 1

I think curves is a great place to be, and i encourage you to stay with the program because it is obviously working for you. If you want to step things up a bit you should throw some different things in the mix, like going for jogs or hiking or swimming or maybe take up a sport like racquet ball or something aerobic that will continue to burn fat and get you toned. I think you are probably just bored with the same ol' same ol', and doing some different activities is surely a cure. I would also highly recommend you do yoga or pilates if you really want to tone, yoga and/or pilates WILL tone and strengthen your muscles and give you a VERY BEAUTIFUL long, streamlined body!!

Answer 2

1. Switch up your routine. If you normally do one form of cardio, do something else (run, kickbox, cycling, swim, tennis, etc).

If you like running, sprint for 15 mins. Put the treadmill on level 9.0-11.0 and sprint. If you can do that continuously for more than 15 mins, then do so.

Short, more intense workouts are far better than longer, less intense ones. So cut down the 40 min workouts to 15 and sprint them.

Also, add weight training if you havent already. Lifting weights puts a bit more muscle, which overall makes you burn fat more.

Or try switching up the time of day you workout. Aim for EARLY EARLY EARLY in the morning. If you already do that, then try late at night.

There is always a way to make a workout more challenging. If sprinting at level 11 for 15 minutes doesn't do it for you, buy leg weights and run with those. If you can do that.. then enter the olypmics. ;)

Answer 3

Change up your workout routine. I don't know what kinda workout you do but I look for different ways to work my arms like if i was doing seated dumbell curls ezbar curls I would change it to straight bar, preacher curls and concentration curls. maybe change up sets instead of 10,8,6,4,2 I would do 8,8,8,6 try to do more weight. Make goals to do your mile in less time. Do your reps with 45lbs instead of 40 and work up to 50 and so on. Write down your progress and track your goals so you see them. Try a new outfit or workout song. Your losing weight at a healthy rate 2 lbs per week don't get disappointed

Answer 4

Bob,

First congrats on losing weight the right way! 2 pounds a week is terrific and typical.

What they are telling you is correct. If you work outside of your aerobic zone, your workouts will be pretty useless.

See if you can increase the intensity of your workouts: add inclines on the treadmill, higher notches on the bike, etc.

Also, increase your weights.

If the above are not options for you, you have outgrown Curves.

Answer 5

Am unsure of how to assist in this area of fitness.

However, working out for an hour a day every 2 days is better than working out every day. This gives your muscles a chance to grow back and tone comes from losing fat and gaining muscle so.....

Answer 6

I wouldn't renew your membership at Curves, it is not a serious institute of fitness. there is nothing wrong with training at a high level of intensity, it is optimum for fat loss. staying in the "fat burning" zone is an outdated, antiquated and least effective method of training for those who are heart healthy.

resistance training with weights would keep you challenged but they do not have them at Curves I believe. you could add in another 45 minutes of walking to your daily work out.

Answer 7

i do no longer think of i might participate if I had the prospect, because of the fact i may be so annoying the entire time i does no longer be waiting to pay interest. issues like that freak me out. i do no longer think of it would artwork ok at a school, even though it could artwork while it incredibly is people from throughout getting at the same time. My brother as quickly as went to a minimum of one to get out of school for an afternoon. It became a concern the scholars have been invited to, yet maximum of them did no longer pass to. he isn't a gentle-feely sort of guy, in any respect. And he feels uncomfortable approximately people sharing their thoughts and each little thing, yet he pronounced that he became happy he went and he felt like he knew a marvelous type of the folk who spoke after it became carried out with. He did no longer communicate himself, even though it looked as though it would electrify him a sprint.

Answer 8

Your doing it right keep doing what ur doing. Your endurance just got better. Its like after you drink so much alcohol, your tolerence lvl goes up and your able to drink more without getting drunk. Its the same thing with running, after u run a mile everyday, youll get used to it. I know this from basketball practice lol. It wasnt hard after the first week. ILY cya