Written by Menswear Style in Health & Fitness on the 11th October 2018

Stamina is a big problem for many people. Whether you are struggling to run for the bus, climb the stairs or you're having trouble beating your 5k PB, it’s often stamina that’s the problem. You just can’t keep going at the same rate and pace for as long as you need to. Many people start an exercise routine and find that they make quick improvements without much effort. Then, suddenly they hit a standstill. Try as they might, they just can’t push themselves harder. They hit the wall, and they can’t run any further. Their legs burn, their lungs feel as though they are on fire and they have to stop.

A lack of stamina doesn’t just affect someone’s athletic performance. If can affect all areas of your life. It can ruin your enjoyment of activities, make you feel older than you are and give your confidence a huge knock. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to improve it. Here’s a look at some of the best.

Quit Smoking 

If you are still smoking, the first thing that you should do for your stamina is switch to Aspire E Cig. Smoking can massively affect your stamina. It causes carbon monoxide to replace the oxygen in your body. You can’t hold air in your lungs for as long, you can’t take deep breaths, and you can’t regulate your breathing when you exercise. Smoking has an adverse effect on your performance and ability. Give it up, and your lungs will have more space to breathe. 

Decrease Recovery Times 

When we first start exercise programmes, we’re often advised to take a day off between each session, and have two days rest before we increase any weight, time or distance we tackle. This is a great way to get into exercise and to start improving your health and fitness levels. It’s undoubtedly the best way to start out if you are entirely new to exercise or very unfit. But, over time your body adjusts to this routine. It gets used to it, it expects it, and you stop making the same leaps forward. Your endurance levels especially can hit a wall. If you want to increase your stamina, reduce the recovery times between your workouts. This also applies to the rest times between reps when you are weightlifting. Cut your rest times, and you will soon start making strides forward. Just make sure you do it sensibly, and you don’t push yourself too hard.

Lift Weights 

Many people make the mistake of thinking that to improve their endurance they must focus all of their efforts on cardio exercise. But, lifting weights can also have a positive effect. Weights help to strengthen your muscles. This gives your cardio workouts more power and helps you to go for longer. 

Mix Things Up 

Another mistake people make is sticking to the same exercise. They want to run a marathon, so they run. They feel as though any other training would be a waste of time. But, your body gets used to things. It falls into a pattern, and the same muscles get exercised with every workout. If you want to make noticeable improvements to your performance and stamina, you should mix things up as often as you can. Spend some time on the cross trainer, add a strength training session to your weekly routine, and practice yoga to help with your balance, posture and core strength.

Get into The Right Mindset  

When you hit that wall, is it really your lungs and legs that are stopping you? Or, is it your mind? Could you push through the pain and carry on if you really wanted to? Or do you desperately need to stop? It’s often our mindset that is in the wrong, not our bodies. If you are used to moderate increases and stopping when you are ready, pushing yourself harder might be a challenge. So, it’s essential that you go into it with a positive attitude. Tell yourself that you can do it. Believe in yourself and push yourself forward. Get into the habit of thinking positive thoughts. Or, try to take your mind off the pain by listening to motivational podcasts or music. 

Take a Break 

Yes, you need to push, and you need to keep going. But, you still need days off, and rest times. Listen to your body, and give it what it needs. Boosting your stamina isn’t just about running for longer and increasing your physical performance. It can make your life more comfortable, and more fun. You’ll feel more confident, you’ll push yourself harder, and you might even develop a new love for exercise and a zest for life.

We discuss Quitting Smoking, Lifting Weights and The Right Mindset in this blog post on the Easiest Ways to Improve Your Stamina.