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Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection
joecrisp, it's great to talk to someone who is certified.
Now that you're here I HAVE a few questions myself.  I had been trying to put on some muscle. I've been eating all my protein (no supplements, I do every natural) varying my workout (changing reps/routines/time of day) and I'm hardly noticing any difference. I've gotten on a big plateau.
Any suggestions???
And thanks a lot for the compliments/motivation... It's just something I've tried to stick with since I lost the weight. |
Ironically, sometimes the best cure for the endless plateau is rest. If you've been on a pretty steady program for a significant amount of time (4-6 months), you'll usually find yourself hitting that plateau, and it seems impossible to break out of it. You might want to try inserting one or two weeks of active rest for every six-to-eight weeks of weight training. By active rest, I mean finding other activities (recreational sports, hiking, yardwork, etc.) to keep your body active, while providing the muscles an opportunity to rest and heal.
Prolonged plateaus that don't respond to significant variations in the training program are usually an indication that the body needs rest. I've often found that by simply laying off the weights for a week or two, I feel stronger and more energized and enthusiastic when I go back to the training program, and I start progressing again.
But you took the right steps by trying to change-up your routine, modifying the reps and exercises, trying different schedules. When those modifications don't work, your body's usually trying to tell you that it needs a little break.