At some point, most of us have felt as though we’ve hit a wall with our exercise plans. Whether we are training for a specific event, or to hit a target, or we’re just trying to keep fit, improve, and increase our strength and stamina, at some point, we get stuck in a rut. Quite suddenly it can seem as though we can’t get better. We can’t shave another second off our times, we can’t go a single step over our longest distance, and we can’t possibly lift any heavier. We can’t go harder or faster, and as much as we try, our training plateaus.
The worst thing is that this plateau often comes after a period of improvement. We’ve been working hard, getting faster and stronger and consistently hitting PBs. We feel great, we’re enjoying training, and love seeing and feeling the changes to our bodies. Then it all stops. The good news is, there are some effective ways to break through this plateau, get back to success and start pushing forward again.
Focus on Your Mental Wellbeing
Often, the walls that we hit in our training have more to do with our mind than our bodies. Our muscles are ready to push, but our minds don’t think that we can do it. Even worse, when you hit a plateau, these feelings are intensified. We feel as though we are failing, weak, and unable to do better.
It should help to know that everyone that exercises has felt like this from time to time. You certainly aren’t alone. Remind yourself of everything that you have achieved, but also that the mental health benefits of exercise are achieved, even without hitting goals and targets.
Look After Your Weight
You don’t have to be the perfect, ideal weight to be fit, strong and fast. But, as much as exercise can affect your weight, your weight can also affect how well you train. If you are significantly underweight, you might find that stamina is a problem, and that your bones and muscles aren’t strong enough to work as hard as you want them to.
If you are overweight, even by a fairly small amount, it might be affecting your cardiovascular health and your circulation and holding you back. If you want to lose a little weight, Shake That Weight meal replacement shakes could be effective. Shake That Weight Shakes are available in a variety of flavours and are high in protein, which is important for building muscle and providing energy.
Try Something New
Our bodies get used to things. Sometimes the best way to get stronger is to try something completely different, challenging them in a new way, or using different muscles. Add a cross-training session into your workout routines for the best results.
Prioritise Little Wins
Big targets are great, but they can be overwhelming. If you are struggling, forget your big targets and focus on and celebrate the little wins. Be proud that you’ve worked out four times this week, or that you did something different. Celebrate your consistency and praise yourself for going even a little further or harder.
An exercise plateau is completely normal, and in most cases, if you care for your health and stick with it, you will come out of the other side. These tips could just help you get there faster.