Stuck in a fitness rut?

It happens to the best of us! We get stuck in a fitness rut which is comfortable! With a few simple strategies you can overcome feelings of boredom or frustration and make the most of your workout time. Even pacing the malls for Black Friday deals offers a great workout. Here are a few other things to try:

1. Working out with a friend or group of friends:
Having someone else with you in the gym has been proven to increase your effort output. It will also give you the opportunity to try some great new moves with a partner like oblique rotations with a medicine ball.

2. Change up your workout:
Plan to switch up your routine every 4-6 weeks. It's around this time that you start to get comfortable with the moves, and your smart body begins to adapt. At this point your body is no longer challenged and you won't make any gains. Try increasing the weight, adding sets, or switching out exercises. You could even try a new method like circuit training instead of split workouts.

3. Change of scenery:
With winter just around the corner most of us are heading indoors for our workouts. This is a great time to reintroduce weights to your routine (if you left them for a summer of running), or fitness classes at the gym. But don't forget all of the fun sports winter offers... skating, nordic and downhill skiing, snowboarding, pond hockey and snowshoeing. If you're lucky enough to live in a warm climate all year long ditch your office job for a yoga mat and the park at lunch.

Give just one of these a try and you're sure to see results. Get more tips like these in New York Times Bestseller Your Best Body Now.

-Tosca