“Shiny Object Syndrome” is a term used to describe a tendency to be easily distracted by new and exciting ideas, opportunities, or possibilities that may not necessarily align with one’s goals or priorities. It’s a common problem, particularly in health and wellness where we are constantly bombarded with new info, fads and influencers doing all sorts of crazy stuff.
If you have shiny object syndrome with your fitness routine you may find it hard to stay interested in one gym or one program, you may find yourself jumping from one type style of workout to another every few months and feeling like nothing is getting you the results you want which can be very frustrating.
Switching programs/workouts too frequently can hurt your fitness results for loads of reasons –
- Lack of Consistency: Fitness programs are designed to be followed consistently over a period of time to achieve optimal results. When you switch programs too often, you are not giving your body enough time to adapt to the training stimulus of a particular program, and this can lead to slower progress and even plateaus. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
- Overtraining: When you switch programs too often, you may end up overtraining certain muscle groups or movements, while neglecting others. This can lead to muscle imbalances, injury, and slower progress.
- Lack of Mastery: Mastery of any fitness program takes time, practice, and repetition. If you switch programs too often, you may not give yourself enough time to master the exercises and movements of a particular program, which can hinder your progress. Think of exercises and strength as a skill, it requires a lot of practice!
When it comes to fitness, you need to “plan the work, and work the plan” to succeed. Strength, conditioning, and muscle growth (ie “toning”) all take more than a few months to achieve (like… a lot more).
Stay tuned next week for some tips and tricks to help you out if you have identified yourself as someone with Fitness Shiny Object Syndrome!
