As a fitness instructor, I often get asked about fitness plateaus. Why am I getting the same results no matter how hard I train? I certainly get asked this question a lot. Clients are spending big bucks with me for training programs but they are not getting the results they want. As a result, they are questioning if they should spend the money and continue with my program or if they should invest their money somewhere else. Here are some steps you can follow to get you over the plateau and start breaking through to bigger and better results.
Be Honest With Yourself
The very first thing to do is be honest with yourself about what you are doing. If you really do not want to train or are not interested in the results you are getting then that is your prerogative. I have been helping people for quite a few years now and I know that sometimes just admitting that we struggle with a certain training plan or that we have been completely lazy with our training will change things.
Plan Everything
Yes I said it. Plan. Know what your goals are and put in the work to get there. This can be in the form of a little goal setting or some true dedication in the gym. Plan your training program. Have a weekly plan which suits your goals and train well. Plan your diet. Know what you are eating and fuel your body properly.
Understand Your Body
You have to understand how your body reacts to exercise and training. Are you recovering? Are you getting fit? Are you plateauing? Can you get more out of the session? Are you injured? Are you getting enough sleep?
All of these questions need to be addressed. Yes it takes time, I know, but take the time to understand the causes for where you are. I find that goal setting is often not done well, which is mostly down to not following through with our goals, it is all well and good writing a list, but if you actually want to achieve them then it takes hard work.
Set Yourself Goals
There is no point in just training for the sake of it. However, you really need to set yourself some realistic goals. If you are just getting back into training or are not getting results after training regularly then it is better to do a few sessions a week for 1 or 2 weeks than no sessions at all. Make sure you plan out each training session.
For example, if you want to increase your deadlift to 225 lbs then you first need to know what your deadlift is currently, and how much you can deadlift already. You then need to work out a plan to get you there. Maybe you need to take a few days off the squat or do an extra 3 sets. If you have read any articles on strength then you will know that increasing volume each week is a great way to build strength.
Short Term Goals are Important Too
When you are nearing your goals it is important to set yourself some goals. Set yourself a benchmark that you can train towards. As your deadlift goal is not too far away, maybe 3-4 weeks. Set up a few sessions on 3-4 times a week to train towards this goal.
Set yourself short term goals that will allow you to see your fitness gains. This will mean you are moving in the right directions and more likely to reach your goals.
Conclusion
I hope you found this post helpful. It is important to have a plan, understand your body, understand what you are doing and set yourself some goals. Once you have a plan, understand your body and set goals then you will be able to get yourself over the plateau and start getting results.
