Louise’s Fitness Journey – Have you really hit a plateau? – Personal Training Ennis, CO, Clare

Ok, so I have been feeling like I have hit a “Plateau”. Over the past 6 weeks, I personally, am not seeing a huge change in my body. Now granted I haven’t put on any weight but I was hoping to see change in definition and look more toned and I just don’t feel it. So, who’s to blame??? GUILTY AS CHARGED!!!
I started to get annoyed with myself and was thinking, ‘Is this it?’, ‘Is it my age?’ I have been keeping up with my training, busting my butt in the sessions and coming out like someone dragged through a hedge backwards to put it mildly (..I honestly think the clients starting the session after me know at this stage to just look away!!)… so, what’s going wrong?? What am I doing wrong??

Then I took a loooong hard look at the past 6 weeks and it was pretty clear that all the accountability was MINE!! It started off just the odd little change in diet, a glass of wine here and there, an impromptu trip to the beach and sure a wee bag of salty chips by the ocean wasn’t gonna be a big deal, right? WRONG….yes if I had stuck to the occasional treat here and there, fair enough, but those wee treats soon became a bit too familiar and less ‘wee’ and my excuses started creeping back in!! I thought.. Sure I’m working out, I will easily burn these calories off. What’s a handful (bag..I’ve big hands) of Haribos here and there or a few Doritos (again…bag) with that well deserved vino (we won’t even go there) on a Friday night?? Well, now I know!!!

Plateau?? Schmlateau!!!
I haven’t reached any kind of plateau, I’ve just totally taken my eye off the ball! It so easily happens, it sneaks up on you if you allow yourself to become too complacent. It’s just the way of life but what I appreciate is that I am aware of it and I got to the root of it early and now know how to move forward! I had big old chat with myself, a little arguing I may add, but I am hopefully now back on the right track. I also had lots of chats with my trainers too and plenty of advice and support. I am heading away for a few days with my family and I honestly can’t wait but I am going to be extra vigilant with my diet, simply because I know if I don’t curb these bad habits now I will just start reversing all the hard work so far. I know it’s my holiday and holidays are a time to relax and for many let loose on the food/booze front but I have to remind myself I have been doing this already and all too frequently over the past six weeks and it hasn’t brought me the joy and elation I had expected. To be totally honest I have felt sluggish, bloated and not as happy as I have been since starting this program.
Don’t get me wrong, my life will never be totally regimented, life is too short and “all work and no play makes Lou a very dull girl” but I do know what I need to do to bring back that buzz that I am missing and start to see my progress again! I have started this week by documenting everything I am eating (not just what I think my trainers want to see), I pre plan my days meals and snacks the night before and that way I have no excuses. Is it boring?? No! You’d think it would be but honestly it’s not, it’s the only way I know I am going to get back into my healthiest routine and feel great, nothing boring about that!!!
I am also upping my game. I slipped away from training in between my PT sessions…again excuses, too busy too tired blah blah blah! So now I’m going to throw myself right back into it and with my healthy eating I should be bursting to use up some of this new energy!! It works, I know it works, it’s exactly how I have gotten this far already, I just need to refocus and refresh! My goal is to drop another 2% body fat within the next month and have more definition. With my current mindset, anything is achievable! I will have 6 months completed on my program by then and I know those last 6 weeks won’t define all my hard work so far and what’s ahead. Sometimes you just need to take that step back to see the wood from the trees, or in my case the water from the wine!!!