Fitness Plateaus - Getting Past Them

May 25th, 2008 · No Comments

We will all hit plateaus in our fitness progress whether we have been working out for just a month or two, or have been doing a fitness regime for years. The first thing many will do with their workouts is to increase their training intensity. That’s the wrong move for most beginners and intermediates as it could lead to over training.

Many times fitness plateaus happen when the body is crying out for a bit more time to recover and rebuild. This is when many think that they need to push harder to continue their results. And that starts a vicious cycle, when training intensity increases but fitness results diminish.

If you find that you aren’t making any progress with your fitness training then it might be time to reduce the intensity of your workouts, either by lifting lighter weights, doing fewer reps, or working out for a shorter time. If you’re doing aerobics, reduce the distances and times of your training for a week or two.

In some cases where people have overdone their exercise routine, a few days or a week off can make a big difference. You might need a complete break to come back rejuvenated. The more experience you have with your exercise routines, the better you’ll get at reading the signs your body gives you, and at understanding when it is time to train harder or when it is time to take a break from your routine.

You might also need to consider having a backup training plan for these times where you will do something completely different to maintain fitness but still have a rest from your usual regime. If you usually run for fitness you might try swimming for a week or two before coming back to your running training again.

Getting past a fitness plateau doesn’t have to be a stressful time. Use your common sense and listen to what your body is telling you to get past them.

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