When you first start your fitness journey progress comes easy. You are likely doing things you have never done, so just by doing them more often you will get better at them. Eventually that progress stalls and can potentially feel like it has stopped. Now, this is a normal part of the process, and having ups and downs is something you will deal with pretty often if you stay with it long enough. However, if you start to feel a dip or plateau you want to analyze it and see if there is anything you can do to fix it. Let's take a look at possible reasons why you might not be making progress.
You are not pushing yourself hard enough: Real results come when we push ourselves beyond our boundaries both physically and mentally. I am not saying to do this every day but, if you never do it, this could be why you are not seeing improvement. For example, you use the same 55lbs on the barbell every time regardless of the movement and no matter the number of reps. Or, you run the same 2 mile loop at the same pace every time you go for a run. Whether it's lifting weights or running, you sometimes need to push and use a heavier weight or run faster, even if it means decreasing the reps or distance.
You are consistently inconsistent: Consistency might be the most important factor to making progress. Even the most poorly designed workout program can produce great results if you do it consistently. Have you ever heard someone say: "showing up is half the battle"? Well, I'd argue that it's more than half. The key here is finding what works for you. For example, 3 days a week for a year shows consistency over a longer period of time as compared to 5 days a week for 6 months. Many people find fewer days per week to be a more sustainable schedule, which translates to maintaining the regimen longer and being less likely to fall off track.
Your nutrition sucks: Oftentimes the response to "how's your diet?" is, "pretty good," only to dig deeper and discover it's actually pretty poor. Many people fall into bad nutrition habits and don't realize it; whether it's eating poor quality foods, skipping meals, or just not eating nearly enough. Making changes to your nutrition can have huge impacts on your progress.
Switching programs too often: Most programs require you to follow for a minimum of 3 months to see results. In fact, you might need to follow them for 6 months to a year to see the full effects. Oftentimes the reason people switch programs is because they get bored of their current program and see that some new and exciting program just got released and it promises amazing results. These people likely find themselves in the same situation a few weeks/months down the road. Regardless of the program you follow, you need to stick with it or your results will be limited.
Expecting results too quickly: You didn't gain 50lbs overnight, and you are not going to lose it overnight either. Yes, you may see gains initially when you start a new fitness program, but the gains start to become less consistent fairly quickly. Results take time and most people give up way before they've put in enough time to see those results.
Remember: dips and plateaus in your fitness are completely normal, but we analyze why they are happening so that we can move in the right direction. Oftentimes the next break through is right around the corner so commit, stay consistent, and keep pushing and the progress will follow.
Comments