Weight loss plateau? Do this now!
Have you hit a weight loss plateau? Has your fitness plan stalled and you don’t feel you’ll reach your goals? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I can help you power back up and start seeing results again.
If you ever feel that you are doing everything just right with your fitness and nutrition plan but your results don’t seem to represent all of your hard work then I have a simple but effective piece of advice. Hitting a fitness or weight loss plateau is a very common problem in the world of sports performance and general weight loss. There are many theories on why our bodies sometimes hit a temporary yet frustrating roadblock but, by thinking outside the box, you can power through the frustration and start seeing results again. Keep on reading and you may be surprised at just how easy it can be to jump-start your flat-lined results.
All you need to do is take a few days rest in order to kick start your results. Honestly – I’m not crazy or cracking one of my usual jokes – you need to do something really different to put body back on track and move past your fitness or weight loss plateau. I believe that if you’re ready to break free from a weight loss plateau or prevent yourself from hitting a future roadblock then a good rest may just be the magic ingredient you need.
Being consistent with your activity level and nutrition plan is an important strategy when it comes to sports performance, weight loss and fitness but have you ever heard the old saying that “too much of a good thing can be a bad thing”? In my opinion this saying is especially true when it comes to overexerting your body. Pushing your body to the point of exhaustion can spell disaster for your fitness level and weight loss goals. A plateau can happen at any point if you don’t schedule some quality down time into your program.
Three great reasons to rest your body
Here are my good reasons why a rest is sometimes more beneficial than a training session.
-
Avoid fatigue
Your body needs to re-generate, restore and repair itself often. The most effective way for your body to naturally heal itself is for you to rest. Overworked muscles and overstressed joints just don’t perform as well and luckily our body lets us know when our muscles are overworked. Your pain receptors will make movements uncomfortable and your joints can become tender when you push your body too hard. The nervous system also needs time to rest in order to adapt and improve from training.
Always listen to your body and rest if you are sore.
-
Natural Cycle
Athletes train in cycles for a reason, the timing of training may vary from athlete to athlete but one common factor in every athlete’s training program are pre-planned rest days. One of the main reasons athletes rest is to avoid fatigue, but resting the body also helps athletes avoid common overuse or stress injuries. Many athletes notice an improved general performance after taking time off from training.
A well-rested body will get better results than a tired one.
-
Spark Excitement
If you are putting your body through the motions day after day, you can become complacent and your exercise intensity is likely to drop without you even realizing.
Have you ever seen a dog that hasn’t been walked for a few days? As soon as the dog goes out, it’s like a whole new world and they are just so excited. Well, it can be the same for humans when we’re working out. Taking a day or two off from your current workout routine can make you come back to the gym with a renewed commitment and excited approach.
***
There could be many factors that impact your results but if overtraining is one of them it is easy to fix with a simple day or two of rest. My goal is to help you discover ways to improve your current fitness level and emphasize that you should to listen to your body. We are all individuals and our bodies adapt at our own personal rate: giving your body adequate rest so it can be strong for your next workout is a smart approach to achieving sustainable results.
You only have one body so use it wisely.
Although I am encouraging you to add a few rest days into your intense training weeks, this is not an excuse for you to sit on the couch and do nothing all the time! A simple change of routine or incorporating activities that are at a lower intensity such as a gentle walk or swim are acceptable rest day activities. Occasionally my family enjoys a ‘duvet day’ where we sit back, relax and read or watch movies. We’re usually active and we like getting out and about but now and then it’s good for everyone to recharge.
I know that taking a rest definitely improves my performance and helps me reach the next fitness level. So, aim for one or two rest days a week but keep your completely inactive couch days to a few times a year!
Let me know if you’ve seen the benefit of rest days too. I love that something so simple can have a significant impact on breaking through a fitness or weight loss plateau – even if it does sound counter-intuitive. And, if you’re looking for more ideas on breaking through a plateau, check out Susan Bowerman‘s excellent post: ‘Weight loss plateau? 5 tips that will help right now’.
Written by Samantha Clayton, AFAA, ISSA. Samantha is Director of Fitness Education at Herbalife.
Tags: Discover Good Fitness, DiscoverGoodFitness, Exercise advice, fitness, fitness expert, Fitness plan, fitness plateau, Get fit & feel great, Herbalife, how to, recharge, Samantha Clayton, Weight Loss, weight loss plateau
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
This seems to work and really it’s exciting to start. I was suggested by many to start the diet plans and sessions for workouts but due to my laziness I couldn’t. Well these things aren’t hard to try. When I start them, I usually get bored of the restrictions and workouts sessions and fall on the same regular track. Can I get any other tips which aren’t a barrier for my laziness?
[...] Weight loss plateau? Do this now! [...]
What I’ve found to help me is to focus on an activity that I enjoy. In this way you’re not just focusing on losing weight and you don’t notice the plateau’s as much. For example, getting involved in team sports with friends becomes something to enjoy and look forward to, rather that pounding on a treadmill wondering why the weight isn’t coming off.
[...] [...]
I have had the best weight loss success with writing as a supplement. I was given a book by Richard Quis, Thinking Anew. It taught me how to write as a therapy, I used it for weight loss. It’s amazing what you will write down given the chance, and then when you see it on paper you can fully realize what you really want. helpthinkinganew.com was the book site. But without it, I had plateaued many times and failed, but once I started doing this daily, I was able to keep going. All about the mind set I guess!
[...] [...]
Such a great and helpful post about weight loss. This will really help people to achieve healthy body.
[...] Discover Good Nutrition & FitnessWeight loss plateau? Do this now! – Discover Good Fitness…. [...]
Good advice, thank you.
Thanks for information .
[...] [...]
useful information
Dear Kathleen,
My favorite saying is ‘think like an athlete’! Although this post refers to performance based training, the same principals can be applied to weight loss. Being vigilant with your calorie intake and expenditure, combined with a consistent workout schedule is the best way to break your plateau. Continue to try new styles of fitness training to help you stay motivated.
Good luck with your weight loss journey,
Samantha
Leslie, this addresses only plateaus in sports/training/exercise. How do I break through the weight loss plateau?
Love it!!!!