#1 Key to Avoiding the Dreaded Fitness Plateau
Running, Weight Lifting, Swimming, Biking… Do you have a favorite activity or workout you regularly default to? Have you done this for years?
It’s okay to admit it — even I have go-to workouts that I know are easy because I’ve done them a thousand times. Every now and then I opt for them.
It’s great to have workouts and activities that you become proficient in but if you’re continually doing the same thing over and over with no results and find your inspiration waning it might be time to expand your exercise repertoire and here’s why:
Plateaus, weight gain, sluggishness, and stress occur when you repeat an activity for so long that it’s no longer stimulating to your body and mind. This leads to a severe drop in motivation and develops a vicious tug of war between loathing exercise and wanting to be fit and healthy… unfortunately, the loathing typically wins out.
Fortunately, it’s easy to become a fitness omnivore — enjoying a variety of activities and styles of working out in order to keep your mind and body challenged and in peak condition.
From Cross Fit, Circuit Training, and Boot Camps to Yoga or Pilates, the fitness world is full of options to keep every participant constantly stimulated.
The #1 key to avoiding plateau, boredom, and injury is proper seasonal planning. This is how athletes train and I can bet there’s not too many people who wouldn’t want to be mistaken for an athlete.
Periodization is the term used to describe the type of cyclical training programs that athletes follow in order to achieve peak competitive performance.
I have developed a type of periodization that can help you find enjoyment and results year round by incorporating functional ways to build strength, stamina, and mobility.
By seeing each season as an opportunity to try a new way of moving, you are challenged to become proficient in new skills, exercises, and methods of training during a set period of time. Diversity in programming and movement patterns are critical to building a strong, fit, and healthy body.
A major benefit of being a fitness omnivore is quite simply, being able to move athletically and without restriction. The better you can move, the more likely you are to have less fat, more muscle, better cardio, and impressive flexibility.
In a society of desk workers, re-gaining and maintaining the ability to move correctly becomes vital to our basic health.
Sitting at a desk in front of a computer causes muscle imbalances, poor posture, and subsequently, bad movement patterns during exercise. As a result, you won’t get as much out of your workouts and can injure yourself.
Here’s a simple overview of an Annual Fitness Plan I developed for one of my extremely active clients here in Denver. I developed specific programming to help her achieve her goals during each season:
Winter (Dec-Feb):
- 3x week Total Body Weight Training
- 1x week Private Yoga session with me
- 1x week outdoor activity (skiing, snowshoeing, etc.)
Spring (March-May):
- 4x week Split Upper Body & Lower Body Weight Training
- 1x week Yoga class
- 1x week running
Summer (June-Aug):
- 2x week Total Body Workouts: Primarily Body Weight Training
- 1x week Private session with me: 20-minute Cardio Intervals & 20-minute Yoga
- 2x week outdoor activity: biking, hiking, tennis, golf, swimming, soccer, running, etc.
Fall (Sept-Nov):
- 3x week Mixed Media Total Body Weight Training
- 2x week Interval Cardio or Cardio Circuit
- 1x week Yoga class
Here are two ways to implement this #1 key to avoiding the dreaded plateau:
- Take some time to develop your own Annual Fitness Plan. Incorporate programs you completed in the past that work for you, activities you love, and new things you’d like to try.
- Commit to working with a fitness professional that can help you see beyond the next few weeks of programming. Proper guidance is essential to knowing your long-term plan will be effective.
At Early To Rise, we are committed to creating the most effective exercise programs so you get the best results. We have incredible programs for all types of fitness goals — if you haven’t tried something new in a while, check out our line of Fitness Programs Here and our Yoga for Pain Relief Program Here – I promise you’ll be excited to change up your routine and you’ll be ecstatic with the results!