Preventing The Dreaded Workout Plateau

By Author: Peter Roseberg
Total Articles: 79
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Those of us who call ourselves fitness fanatics can attest to the fact that exercising regularly does wonders for our body, particularly in shaping our physique. How many of us have dreamed of having a bikini-ready body when summertime rolls around and how many of us have dreamed of fitting into those skin-tight jeans for those Friday night parties only to find that despite our regular trips to the gym, we haven't lost as much weight as we thought?

This is what is known around fitness circles as the workout plateau. You work and work hard, you bend over backwards and try not to miss a day at the gym but here you are, standing on the scale and trying to make sense of the numbers it is showing you. Absolutely no change and come to think of it, are your eyes playing tricks on you or did you not gain any muscle at all this week?

The thing about our bodies is that it easily gets used to anything we subject it to that's why there are some of us who gain weight easily and lose weight just as easily. It also becomes used to the stress of daily exercise as well as the constant intake of supplements which is why we need ...
... to change things up and trick out bodies into thinking that we are doing something or taking something different when we are actually not.

To start, you may want to mix up your workout days. If you're used to going to the gym every day, try going twice a week instead for about two weeks, then start going regularly every day again. Try this routine for about six to eight weeks before completely stopping and going on a week-long hiatus. Try to do the same with your supplements - try not taking them for about six to eight weeks so that when you resume taking them, they will feel as if they've been supercharged.

You should also try changing up your exercise routine, not just to get off the plateau but also because it can get too boring doing the same thing over and over again. If you've been doing some weight lifting or aerobic exercises, try doing some brisk walking, swimming or biking, interchanging these activities depending on your preferences. You can also put in some serious yoga time if you can so that you can gently transition back into your old routine without ever experiencing a plateau.

One of the many misconceptions people have about losing weight is that it's going to happen more quickly if you exercise every day. The body needs time to recover, particularly your muscles so that you don't go into a catabolic state which is why you need to rest so that you body gains more muscle and loses more weight because resting will keep the plateau reaction at bay. Ideally, you should work out only for two or three days at the most and schedule the other two days as rest days.

And lastly, another misconception is that the more weight you want to lose, the lesser calories you have to take. The truth of the matter is, the more you increase your fitness level, the more calories you have to take in order to maintain a healthy metabolic rate. A workout plateau occurs often because your body is not receiving its required caloric intake, forcing it to work harder than usual.

When you feel hungry all the time and experiencing a workout plateau, that is a sure sign that you need to increase your caloric intake. Make sure you constantly change up your routines and supplements to avoid the dreaded plateau. Make sure as well that you get your supplements only from reputable stores both online and off. Get your supplements only from one place. Visit www.nutritionwarehouse.com.au and find exactly what your body needs.