Does your workout leave you breathless? Are you constantly struggling with muscle soreness? Do you ever sweat? If not, then your workout might be too easy. A challenging exercise session should make your heart beat faster and leave your muscles sore. When you have a good workout, you just feel it. Here are four signs that your exercise routine is too easy:
Your Heart Rate Isn’t Too High
If your heart rate stays the same or it only increases slightly, then you’re not working hard enough. Ideally, you should hit 77 to 93 percent of your maximum heart rate during intense exercise. Use a heart rate monitor to find your pulse and track workout intensity. This way, you’ll be able to maximize your gym time and get results.
You Complete Over 12 Reps with the Same Weight
Most strength exercises require eight to 12 reps per set. Once you can do 12 reps with a given weight, it’s time to increase the load. If you don’t do it, you’ll hit a plateau. Your muscles need to be challenged in order to grow. By using heavier weights, you’ll build muscle and strength, lose fat, and rev up your metabolism.
You Talk with Your Friends All the Time
A hard workout should leave you breathless, or at least make it hard to carry a conversation. That’s because it requires energy and mental focus. If you can easily carry on a conversation while exercising, you’re doing something wrong. Focus on your workout and save the chat for later. Try more challenging exercises that require your entire attention.
Your Muscles Are Never Sore
Muscle soreness isn’t necessarily a sign of a successful workout. However, you should have sore muscles at least once in a while. The first sign that your workout is too easy is that you’re no longer feeling sore or fatigued. This means your body got used to the stress you were applying to it, so it doesn’t work that hard anymore. The best thing you can do right now is to increase exercise duration and intensity, lift heavier weights, or try new moves.
