Over the years I’ve had people come to me discouraged that their progress with fitness has hit a brick wall. Whether it’s weight loss or trying to build more muscle on their body, after they have been training for a few months they may suddenly stop seeing results.
This is called Hitting A Plateau, and it’s very common. Unless you change your exercise program every so often – usually every 4-6 weeks – you are almost guaranteed to hit a plateau.
If weight loss is what you are after, you might have to lower your calorie intake and increase your physical activity. The first thing is to determine the number of calories you are consuming. Your caloric intake may be too low or too high for your daily physical activity. This where keeping a daily food journal can be helpful.
Often adding strength training to your regular exercise routine can help you to get off your plateau. The added muscle helps to offset the metabolism-lowering effect of dieting (bad word!) and losing weight. The more muscle a person has on their body frame, the higher your metabolism will be.
The key, though, of getting past your plateau is to vary your program. The body is very adaptable. When you keep doing the same thing over and over again, the human body knows what’s coming – hence, no
changes. Keep it fresh and you’ll likely find yourself on the right path again, getting closer to your fitness goals.
If you still cannot overcome your plateau by yourself, it may be time to call a qualified, Certified Personal Trainer for assistance.
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