The Truth About the Hitting Plateaus in Your Fitness Journey
fitness plateau
Have you hit a fitness plateau?
I’ve hit these at basically every stage of my journey and they used to frustrate me so much! Now, I realize that plateaus are actually a really awesome thing.
They mean you’ve made progress. You have to have made progress to get to a fitness plateau — so that’s a good thing! The downside is you’re probably working toward a goal (weight loss, building strength, gaining muscle, etc.) and now feel stuck. I get it.
This was literally me for almost the last year. For me, I think it really came down to my thyroid medication, but for most it can happen when you’re training too much, not training enough, eating too much, not eating enough, changing your workouts too often or not often enough. So, basically, a million reasons…
Don’t worry! It can be a little tricky to figure out what’s causing your fitness plateau, but really, it doesn’t matter what the reason is. All that matters is that you keep going.
When you hit a plateau, you have 3 options:
- Give up. This used to be me. I get it! I know how freaking frustrating it is to be putting in a bunch of energy and not seeing results. But giving up doesn’t just mean you don’t make more progress from the point you’re at now. It also means backsliding to where you started, going back to square one. Yuck.
- Be content. Maybe you’re happy with where you’re at in one area or another and this can be your happy place. Contentment is definitely an asset. If you’re at a fitness plateau but you like the view from there, enjoy it! It took a lot of work to crest this peak and you deserve to savor it!
- Push through the plateau and start to crush your goals. This is me now. Seriously, hitting a plateau just fires me up. It means I’m ready to level up!
How I get through fitness plateaus
If option #3 sounds the best to you, you’ve got this! And I’m here right alongside you. Plus, this isn’t my first time hitting — and crossing — a plateau. If you want to break through a plateau, here are some ways you can do it. They’re tried by yours truly, so I know they work!
Really, the goal is to keep your body guessing and progressing. Here are some things you can try:
- Add or increase weights/resistance in your workouts. Your fitness plateau might be your body’s way of telling you it’s ready for more! Try taking your workouts up a notch and watch for progress.
- Take a week and switch up your routine. Add more HIIT or plan a rest/recovery week where you slow it down. Sometimes a fitness plateau is a sign your body needs a change. Mix it up in the way that sounds best to you. You probably have a good sense of what your body needs, whether that’s more intensity or some R&R. Try out the tons of different workout videos in the LSF App!
- Look at your nutrition. Are you eating enough? Too much? The right stuff? Keep a food log for a day or two and see what might need to be switched up. And if you’ve been eating insanely clean and precisely for a few weeks, let go a little and shock your body with something you don’t typically eat. Sometimes a “TREAT” day can help, too!
The bottom line is: fitness plateaus happen when your body gets used to the same thing all day, every day. It was challenging at first, but now you’ve built strength and gotten healthier and your body is comfortable.
If you want more, you’ve got to get outside your comfort zone for a bit. I love my body at every stage and I’ve learned to be grateful for the plateaus because they remind me that I’ve been killing it! Your fitness plateaus give you an opportunity to challenge yourself even more.
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