Nothing predicts dreaded plateaus like the same workout routine over and over again. A plateau occurs when your client ceases to gain any recognizable progress in the fitness journey. This may be reflected by stagnation in weight-loss or flat-lining in muscular growth and strength.
You can avoid and work around plateaus with a change in the game plan. Here are a few ways to do that.
Use Different Training Moves
Experimenting with different exercise equipment has proven effective for many clients. This breaks the monotony of training day in and day out, which can stagnate clientele performance and optimism. Also, this gives professionals a chance to broaden our knowledge on different techniques and training methods.
Try this abdominal move instead of crunches:
- Lay supine on a bench with half of your glutes hanging off the bench.
- Keep one leg straight hovering slightly above the ground and the other knee bent.
- Tighten your core and bring the bent leg to your stomach by flexing at the hip.
- Return to the starting position and repeat for 15 reps before switching sides.
This move targets the upper and lower abdominal areas in addition to the upper thighs (quadriceps). This exercise also targets the back muscles as some tension is directed to the lower back musculature from elongating the body.
Vary Rep Ranges and Weight
I am famous for my ridiculous rep ranges, whether the weight being lifted, pulled, carried or thrown is light or heavy. This allows me to test a client’s grit and mental toughness. However, on occasion, I keep the ranges moderate to prevent repetitiveness, which ends up being a huge relief to many clients.
Like the saying goes: “Change is good” and with change, there is usually transformation or growth in some way, shape or form. When it comes to training, it is a “must” to keep things ever-changing and exciting. There is no better way to derail a client’s fitness journey than by having them do the same moves, with the same weight, in the same rep ranges time and time again.
Workout in Groups or Alone
Most clients I come into contact with either love working out in groups or are opposed to the idea. I respect whichever preference a client expresses but I inform them of the advantages of trying something new.
For my workout “lone wolfs” I explain that perhaps they may learn a new way or technique of doing a certain move that another client does or how they may simply benefit from the emotional boost in morale.
For my group junkies, I advise them to work out on their own as a means of taking retrospect; it’s their journey, and no one else’s. So whether the effort is put in or not, they are held accountable.
Evaluate Last Year’s Workouts and Progress
What changes have taken place with your client during the past year? It is vital to take stock of your client’s progress through different methods. Before and after pictures are great, as the physical and even emotional changes are visible, whether it’s expressed in a huge reduction in the waistline or the widening of your client’s smile.
Track clients progress with Body Fat and BMI assessments. They are great ways to record changes in body composition.
Keep your clients progressing and prevent fitness and weight loss plateaus by changing up the routine, varying who a person works out with and by tracking progress. Variety and accountability keep clients interested and engaged.
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Mr. Dassin is an NFPT certified trainer, NFPT author, and fitness model. A staunch humanitarian and intellectual, Stephen boasts over 15 years of experience in the areas of health and fitness. Stephen’s approach to personal training is methodical in nature; his methods take an interpersonal and scientific based view of the connections of the human mind and the human anatomy and it’s capabilities. His passion for fitness is unparalleled. His athletic background fueled his poise in becoming knowledgeable about nutrition as well. This added fuel to his desire to help others achieve their own individual goals in the area of fitness such as himself. Join Stephen on his journey, not just a fitness journey but the greatest journey of them all: Life.
