How to Avoid the Dreaded Weight-Loss Plateau

Keep Learning to Keep Burning

Unfortunately, there comes a point when your fitness journey becomes a marathon rather than a sprint. It's easy to stay motivated in the beginning when changes happen quickly. It takes effort and dedication to stick with your fitness routine when the scale budges less frequently and less dramatically.

If you stay the course, you'll continue to progress toward your goal weight and increase your muscle tone and endurance. The key is to keep your body and mind engaged by adding variety to your workouts. A good rule of thumb is to consistently change your workout routine.

Teach Your Body and Mind - In Class

Group exercise classes are one way to add variety to your routine. Instead of running on a treadmill for cardio, take a cycling class. Instead of lifting weights, take a yoga class that uses balance and body weight to build muscles.

There are classes ranging from boot camps to water aerobics. Change it up; attend one for a month, and when it becomes less challenging, choose another class. As a bonus, you'll meet new people who will hold you accountable to show up.

Try Unfamiliar Equipment

Do you wonder how to workout with the kettle bells or how to balance on a bosu? Seek a professional trainer to show you the proper way to use these types of equipment. Satisfy your curiosity and challenge your muscles by trying new equipment. It will be tough at first and you'll probably be sore. But that's how you'll be rewarded on the scale.

Use Familiar Equipment in New Ways

Perhaps you are a treadmill or bike devotee. If you insist on using the same equipment, you can still change your workout. High-intensity intervals make any cardio workout more challenging. Run (or pedal) at your max speed for 30 seconds, then walk (or pedal slowly) for 30 seconds. Repeat this for the duration of your session.

*Fitness should be a lifestyle, not a phase. Keep it interesting and varied and you'll be more likely to stick with it and achieve your goals.