break through the plateau!

So, you've been working out and training for more than 6 months, eating the correct foods and the weight-loss seems to have stalled.  Do you constrict the calories even more?  Do you substitute your rest day with another workout?  Do you change your workout routine? So many questions.....AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!

Before you start scouring fitness magazines for exercises or workouts that could potentially be unsafe, I recommend an exciting alternative: sign up for an event!  What kind of event, you ask?  A 5k, 10k, biathlon, triathlon, cycling, mountain biking, etc.  Training for an event serves a few different purposes.

One reason is that you are able to break through the physical plateau.  The main reason people hit plateaus is because they do the same workout, day in, day out with relatively little change.  The human body tries to find the path of least resistance: it attempts to conserve as many calories as possible while still performing at its peak.  Adding in come cross-training keeps the neuromuscular facilities at their peak.  In other words, the pathways between the brain and the muscles stay sharp. 

The main reason this works is even simplier than the physical: it keeps you focused!  Don't get me wrong, I don't need much of a reason to workout out other than just for the sake of working out.  However, every once in a while, I need that extra motiviation, just to see what I can do, how much I can push myself.  So I sign up for a race: usually nothing more than a 5k or a biathlon.  Remember: keep an open mind.  Don't limit yourself to the normal races.  In addition to the road races, there are also some fun quirky ones that include the Muddy Buddy, the Down and Dirty, and for you whack-jobs, the Tough Mudder.  If getting dirty isn't your thing, grab a friend and check out the Great Urban Race.  For a comprehensive list, check out Active.com.

Remember, getting fit doesn't always have to take place in a gym or involve weights.  Keep challenging yourself and break through the plateau!!