It can be incredibly frustrating to dedicate hours to your fitness routine but still not see toned muscles or a dip in the scale like you’d been hoping for. Or, sometimes, we can start a new workout regimen and see results really fast, only to see them slow down drastically or come to a complete standstill. So annoying!
When we feel like we aren’t getting anywhere, despite all the effort, it can lead to a loss of motivation and confidence. This, of course, can lead to giving up altogether.
Don’t worry, though. It turns out that there are some common reasons why people hit fitness plateaus in their progress. The first thing to keep in mind is that it can take months or years to see changes in muscle size or body fat percentage. So, don’t be discouraged if it’s only been a month or two and you don’t have your “dream body” yet. Another important thing to remember is that your goals need to be realistic and attainable. Sometimes, lofty goals might not be possible to attain simply because of genetics or your schedule and responsibilities. Be real with yourself, but also kind to yourself.
With all of this said, it can be draining and discouraging to spend hours dedicated to something and see no visible results. Here are some reasons why you might have hit a fitness plateau and might not be seeing the results you want from your workouts.
#1 You haven’t been totally honest with yourself
You can’t see results in the gym without being a conscious eater in the kitchen. It’s all too common that we think we know what a portion size is – but we really don’t. Or, you might think you ate healthy all day long, but grabbing handfuls of trail mix all day can add up way quicker than you think. Sit down and ask yourself, “what and how much am I actually eating? How often are you really moving throughout the day? Sometimes when we take a hard, honest look at things, we can see that there is a lot of room for improvement.
#2 You’re not switching up your workouts enough
Your body and your muscles are a lot smarter than you might give them credit for. They are very quick at adapting to new things, so when you perform the same workout over and over, your muscles become used to doing these motions or lifting that amount of weight, and soon, you’re no longer reaping the benefits that you once were and that’s when you reach a fitness plateau. Be sure to switch up your movements and routine and keep gradually adding weights to challenge your muscles.
#3 You’re thinking about extremes instead of balance
Humans are drawn to quick fixes. We are always looking for the magical product, routine, diet, or fad to help fix all of our problems in a short amount of time. This just isn’t reality, folks. To see change and maintain results, you need to make fitness and nutrition a lifestyle. By going to extremes, you might see results from the get-go, but soon, maintenance becomes exhausting, so, it’s unrealistic for the long-term. Instead of cutting out all carbs or food groups, or going to the gym two hours at a time, focus on moderation instead of deprivation.
#4 You’re not sleeping enough
A hectic, go-go-go lifestyle is all too common these days. But getting only three or four hours of sleep at night because you had too much on your plate isn’t something to be proud of. In fact, this can be extremely taxing on your entire system. When we sleep, this is when our brain and body get the time they need to regenerate and recover. When you’re not sleeping enough, your body doesn’t have time to focus on muscle-building because it’s too busy trying to keep everything else working on overtime. Knock unimportant items off your to-do list and make it a point to get a good night’s rest. Sleep is a super essential part of self-care.
The Bottom Line
If you’re working out like crazy, but just don’t seem to be getting the results you are looking for, there’s a good chance you have hit a fitness plateau. As you can see, this can be due to a number of reasons-not sleeping enough, not being totally upfront with how much you are actually working out, or maybe you just aren’t adding enough variety and balance to your workout routine.
To help switch things up and kick your body into high gear, try downloading the FitOn app where we offer tons of fun classes taught by celebrity trainers that you can do right from the comfort of your own home. FitOn workouts will help add some balance to your fitness routine while also giving you a new style of workout to do every time you need a bit of a change. It may be exactly what your body needs to start seeing some results again.
