There's no greater feeling than watching your body transform and grow stronger as you smash your fitness goals. Whether your routine is focused on building muscle or increasing endurance, it can be a thrill knowing that your hard efforts are paying off. But what happens when you stop seeing the progress you used to achieve?
At Cajun Fitness, we are here to help you break through a plateau at the gym. Let's explore what a fitness plateau is, why it happens, and what you can do to get back on track.
A plateau is a state of little or no change after a time of progress, and it's a natural consequence of your body adapting to your exercise or weightlifting routine. Over several weeks or months, your heart strengthens, your muscles strain less, and your body becomes more efficient overall. Plateaus can also occur when you aren't using proper form during your exercises or fail to give your body adequate time to recover
Signs You May Be in a Workout Plateau
Falling into a rut at the gym is pretty standard, especially if you've repeatedly followed the same routine. Recognizing the signs of a workout plateau is the first step in overcoming it. Keep an eye out for any of the following:
To sustain growth and progress on your fitness journey, you'll need to continue challenging your muscles and making adjustments to your routine accordingly. If you're unsure where to start, try some of the recommendations below to help you break through your gym plateau.
1. Switch It Up
When your workout feels stale, it's time to stimulate your body in new ways. This could be as simple as switching up the order of your normal exercises, changing the parts of the body you are focusing on, or even working out on different days.
2. Increase Intensity
Feel like you're not pushing yourself hard enough? Switching up the intensity and duration of your regular workouts might be enough to kick-start your progress again. This might look like lifting heavier weights, reducing rest time between sets, or incorporating high-intensity interval training into your routine.
3. Work with Others
Participating in a group activity, like a BodyPump session or a dance class, is a fun and engaging way to shake up your solitary workout routine. You might also consider a customized, one-on-one program with a personal trainer who can help you push your limits and achieve your fitness goals faster. Working with others is also a great way to find encouragement, motivation, and accountability.
4. Get More Rest
Sometimes, a workout plateau is connected to overexertion and burnout, which are just as detrimental to progress as not training hard enough. Make sure to give your muscles time to recover and repair after a hard workout, and listen to your body when it's tired and sore.
5. Improve Your Nutrition
Fueling your workouts with the proper nutrition cannot be overstated. Maintaining a balanced diet, eating on time, and drinking enough water daily will do wonders for your overall health and help you overcome a fitness plateau.
Instead of letting a gym plateau frustrate you, use it as an opportunity to evaluate your current approach and set new attainable goals. At Cajun Fitness, we are equipped to help you achieve those goals and rocket your gym performance to new heights. After all, achievement boosts dopamine, and self-pride boosts motivation—the perfect combination for getting out of your fitness rut.
Talk to our fitness and nutrition experts today for more great advice about how to achieve, maintain, and enjoy healthy living!
Receive a FREE Guest Pass