Posted in: Workouts / Workout Programs

How do you approach exercise programs?

I've generally been choosing 8 weeks' worth of more intense programs and then follow with 1 or 2 weeks of a deload type. I want to try all of the routines here at least once so I would choose a different one each time.

But, since I aggravated a chronic knee injury last month (while walking :/) I've dropped my future planned programs and have been doing Pilates and yoga vids with physical therapy for the last few weeks. In that time, I noticed that my core strength, ambulation, and balance improved significantly in just those few weeks when I consistently felt weaker in those areas all year doing more intense stuff. I think it was difficult for me to track where I was improving and where I might have been languishing. Not to mention I've had to often modify moves and reduce/eliminate my usual weights with my knee being the way it is.

All of that to say - do you tend to repeat certain programs or videos N amount of times to see if you improve at something before moving on or perhaps trying a more advanced version in the same video?, or do you tend to just do a different program when you finish one? Or maybe just do your favorites forever and occasionally toss in something new that looks interesting?