Hitting a plateau in your fitness journey is unquestionably frustrating and demotivating. Think about it – you’ve been putting in those extra hours of strenuous efforts and eating right. Then suddenly, the results are stalled.
Well, believe it or not, plateaus are a very common obstacle in the world of fitness. Whether you are trying to lose weight or bulk up, hitting a sudden pause in results is encountered by many. But don’t worry! With the right strategies and mindset, battling the plateaus is easier done than thought.
If, however, you pair your diet with good vitamins and minerals can work like magic! Besides, multivitamins for men are anyway a must-have for muscle enthusiasts. In addition to supplementation, a quick switch-up in your workout routine could also help break the plateau.
Let’s put the assumptions on hold for now. Instead, let’s explore what plateaus are, the common indicators, and tips to overcome them.
In fitness circles, a plateau refers to a period where you stop seeing any progress despite your hard-won efforts and intense muscle-building exercises.
Keeping a close eye on a few indicators could help you figure out if you’ve hit a plateau in your fitness regimen. These include:
No Progress – Unfortunately, if you fail to witness any progress in your fitness goals, irrespective of your efforts and consistency, it is a plateau. Weight loss, muscle gain, or no spike in strength – zero progress sums up the definition of a plateau.
Lack of Motivation – It is a no-brainer that when you stop seeing any improvements at all, it is pretty easy to lose interest in exercising and feel bummed to continue further. In short, plateaus could easily pave the way for demotivation and lack of enthusiasm.
Feeling Stuck – Doing the same exercises day in and day out without seeing any noticeable difference could certainly make you feel as though you are stuck in a rut. True? If the feeling of stagnation creeps in, you’ve undoubtedly bumped upon a plateau.
While the disappointment of hitting a plateau is real, there are several strategic ways to break through those plateaus and keep your fitness routine on a roll.
1. Switching Up Your Workout Routines is a Gamechanger
Cardios on Mondays, weight training on Tuesdays, and deadlifts on Thursdays – if you’ve been at it for the longest time, it might be worth shaking up your workout routine. Here’s why – your body has efficiently adapted to the same exercises you’ve been doing for months or years. Introducing new movements in your body wellness classes or new drills in your exercise routine challenges your muscles in different ways. The result? It stimulates further growth and improvement.
2. Say Yes to New Exercises
A simple barbell curl for your muscle-building exercises is not cutting it. Don’t be scared to incorporate new exercises into your routine. It could:
a) Bust the plateau
b) Target the same muscle group but at a different angle
For example: you may be doing a hundred squats a day with little or no major difference. Try switching it up with Bulgarian split squats or Sumo squats and see the difference. It just keeps your muscles guessing.
3. Turn to The Right Diet
Believe it or not, nutrition is everything in your fitness journey. If you are not eating right, no amount of muscle-building exercises or intense drills can work the trick. Making the slightest adjustments to your diet can break the plateau. For instance, if you are already adhering to a strict diet, switching up little things like the timing of your meals, the ratio of micronutrients, and calories, or the simple addition of vitamins and minerals provokes your body with new stimuli. Results? Improvements or changes are bound to happen.
Let’s take a moment and reflect on the importance of essential vitamins and minerals in a diet. Here’s how it benefits:
So, don’t skip on effective multivitamins for men and women, especially when strength training and working hard on those brawns.
4. Don’t Rush Recovery
Not many understand but plateaus also occur when you train hard and overdo leaving little or no time for recovery. Stop that practice and give your body enough time to rest and recover between the workout cycles. Toggle between activities like yoga and foam rolling. It prevents your body from burnout and keeps it functioning optimally.
5. Realistic Goals Only
Lastly, it is crucial to select realistic and achievable goals for yourself. Do not expect linear progress all the time, every time. Plateaus are very common even when you are doing the most carefully curated muscle-building exercises. Embrace it and find a way to bust it. Celebrate the little progress you see and don’t always await a magical transformation.
Hitting a plateau is only obvious. Start looking into the essential vitamins and minerals or supplements you could include to power up your diet and alter between exercises to break the pause. Follow the strategies outlined above and you will start witnessing magical results in no time at all.