Overcoming Plateaus

 I have been an athlete since I was born.  I know firsthand what it's like to hit a plateau.  Some training plateaus are longer (and harder) than others.  I've had plateaus that have lasted me days, weeks, months, and even years.  Injuries can certainly bring about plateaus and how long they are delayed.
 
I am also a rock climber.  I know firsthand what it's like to hit literal plateaus.  

 
Whether in sports, life, athletics, or whatever your cup of tea may be, plateaus are inevitable.  I'm going to suggest an approach to overcoming them.
 
#1  Be patient.  You'll never be able to accomplish something worthwhile without patience.  
 
#2  Write down a game plan.  Think of all the different ways you can change up what you are currently doing.  At least try something different.  Doing the same thing over and over again may have gotten you where you are but will not get you over your current hurdle.  You may need professional help (a personal trainer or other guru) in order to get the most effective strategy.  Oh, and if you don't write it down you aren't very committed to overcoming the plateau in the first place.  So, write it down.
 
#3  Be 100% committed.  If you go half-way with your game plan it will have been done in vain.  
 
I get questions all the time, very general questions such as "how can I lose weight?", "how can I get a six pack abs?", "how can I get ripped?"  These questions are good questions, but the answers vary.  
 
I recently watched the impressive documentary "Bigger, Stronger, Faster" about the use of anabolic steroids.  Many people take steroids.  More than you think.  If you pick up a fitness magazine and look at the fitness models, there is a very good chance they are on the juice.  The products they are endorsing, or advertising for, did NOT win them their sculpted bodies.  Most products for muscle growth (that you buy legally) are croc products.  There are exceptions, such as creatine monohydrate, protein powders, BCAA's, etc, but these are very simple and inexpensive supplements.  Companies use these simple products and mix them with fillers and herb boosters and sell them for 60 times the cost, so beware.  
 
We all want to be bigger, faster, and stronger, don't we?  There are safe ways to do it...and natural ways too!  I am neither for nor against the use of steroids.  I am against cheating.  If you are going to compete in a "tested" arena, play it straight.  If there is no testing and that is the pretense...it's your body and if we know one thing for sure about steroids...it's that THEY WORK.
 
#4  Accept "change."  If you're going through a stage wherein you aren't progressing, you need change.  Change makes the world go round.  You need to acknowledge that something must change if things aren't working.  Find what works and stick to it until it doesn't work anymore, then find something else...yadda yadda yadda.
 
There are many resources from which to gather information.  There is good news and bad news, though.  The good news is that there are many resources.  The bad news is that many of those resources are misleading or just plain false.  Sometimes you never know what to believe on the internet.  Here are some tips:
#1  Check the source's credibility.  Mix and match the information with multiple sources.
#2  Avoid forums.  Internet forums are a bad place to trust information.  
#3  Ask a personal trainer, dietician, or other guru for advice
#4  Never give out personal information.  If it's that personal, go to a physician.  
#5  There are some weird people on the internet.
 
Good luck!
 
Patrick Asay
Applied Martial Arts