If you have found yourself in a fitness rut, let me the first to commend you. The very fact that you have the tenacity to stick with the same program day in and day out, long after it has proved to be effective or fun, is something to be proud of.

This may not be entirely all your fault, maybe you are tied to your exercise of choice by friends, family and coworkers. Among them, you are known as "the runner", "the yoga nut", the "body builder", or "the jazzercise queen" The unspoken label creates a certain amount of pressure to continue on your current path. There is nothing wrong with finding your passion and building a solid reputation and knowledge set, but to continue to see results and break the monotony, you need to change it up.

Try any one of the following ten tips to help you break out of your fitness rut. If one of these ideas seems too unlike you, or too crazy, then that's probably where you should start.

Hire a Trainer. Sign up for a boot camp, or a one on one session with a trainer. They can give solid advice and another set of eyes to what might be of the the most benefit to your fitness routine. If a trainer is out of your budget. Rent a new style of workout DVD from the library. Rent a stack and try a different one everyday.

Compete. Sign up for a event, such as a bike tour or a fun run. Join a league. Check with your community recreation department and see what is available. Soccer, volleyball, roller derby, baseball, anything to change up your routine and give yourself new reasons to push yourself.

Buy a New Piece of Equipment. Meander through the sporting goods store and see what strikes your fancy. The peaceful yoga lover may want to hang a punching bag in the garage or maybe the bodybuilder could try a spin on a pair of roller blades. If money is an issue, check with your friends and coworkers first. Odds are someone has what you are eying up collecting dust.

Go Jump in a Lake. Give swimming a try. No lake? Then head over to your neighborhood pool for a few laps. Doing so will introduce most people to muscles they didn't know they had.

Take a Martial Arts Class. Karate, tae kwon do, qi-gong are good places to start. Attending a weekly class may be a good change for you. Other classes work just as well, try belly dancing, swing dancing, ballroom dancing or ballet. Meet new friends, learn new skills and create an air of mystery to yourself while having the time of your life.

Virtual Workouts. Give video game fitness programs a whirl. There are so many varieties on the market today, with new ones coming out all the time, check for second hand game systems. Ask anyone under 25 in your neighborhood for detailed directions to the nearest store that would carry these.

Play. Simply shoot hoops one night, alone, with your kids, or spouse. Go to the playground. Play tag. Gather the girls and go dancing. Jump rope, with songs and chants, not a strict routine.

Change it up. This step is for those who need to take a baby step of change, not a giant leap. The results could prove to be more effective than what is expected though. If you normally work out for 40 minutes, stretch it to 60 by doing everything slower and more deliberate. Or speed it up. Take a Birkham yoga class, rather than your typical Hatha. Turn the music up. Turn it off. Go inside. Go outside. Changing one small aspect of your routine makes you refocus on what you are doing.

Teach. Take someone under your fitness wing and show them what you know. Or sign up to coach a sport you love and are good at,. Help out with the Special Olympics or at your local Y. Sharing your passion in this way is an excellent way to break out a fitness rut.

Take a Week Off. If you hit the gym after work 5 days a week or run every morning at 7 am without fail, a week off will not hurt you. Use the time saved to let your body heal and at the same time feed your senses. Take a walk through a museum or two. Visit the zoo. Hike in the woods or just walk along the beach. Breath deep, think and feel a mini vacation may be all you need to break out of your fitness rut.

Breaking out of a fitness rut will be fun if you follow any one of the tips above. Take the vague concept of doing your routine to stay in shape, and turn it into an enjoyable pursuit of a fuller life.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2571171/bored_with_exercise_bre...