The second important benefit of variety in your exercise program leads us
back to the interval training concept, discussed above.
When you add variety to your workout, your body cannot get into a
groove. Remember: the body is a remarkable piece of work, and will
always strive to do things efficiently.
Naturally, the overall state of your health (which can be influenced by
genetics and other factors outside of your control) will play a role in how
efficiently your body runs.
But regardless of how your body is put together, who what genetic
influences you have to deal with, your body really likes you, and wants to
do things as efficiently as it possibly can.
Therefore, when you start exercising, you body can start to develop a kind
of expectation of energy output. It’s not doing this to be lazy; it’s doing
this because, quite sincerely, it wants to help!
If your body starts to predict that you need a certain amount of energy to
complete a certain task (such as jog for 20 minutes), then it will start to
achieve that energy output more efficiently.
For example, when you first start jogging for, say, 2 minutes a time
followed by 5 minutes of walking, your body may require a great deal of
energy to help you achieve this.