Whether you’ve been training consistently for a while or you’re in the process of building a workout habit, at some point, you’ll find yourself facing an obstacle or two. These obstacles can stand between you and achieving your fitness goals.
We don’t all face the same challenges, but there are some obstacles that we have in common with each other. So what is it that holds you back? And what can you do about it?
Here are some suggestions on how to conquer a few common gym obstacles:
1. You’ve hit a plateau.
One common obstacle that you might face in your workouts is hitting a training plateau. One day you’re moving along and making progress. The next day you start to stall out. Before you know it, you feel stuck. Perhaps you stop setting new PRs, or you just feel sluggish any time you’re at the gym.
The best way to beat a training plateau is to make a change. Possible changes include varying the intensity of your workouts. Are you still pushing yourself, or have you settled into a more comfortable pattern? You might need to find new ways to challenge yourself so that you continue making progress. You may even consider adding another day of training to your week.
2. You feel intimidated to try something new or different.
Another obstacle might be that you’re intimidated to try something new or different. You’ve followed the same routine for so long, and you’re familiar with every move you do, so why mess with it if it’s working?
If you never try something new or different in your workouts, you might get stuck (see Obstacle #1 above). But if you’re willing to try new movements or challenges, it guarantees that you are always learning. And that can lead to a positive sense of accomplishment when you master a new skill or achieve a personal goal.
3. You’re just not feeling that motivated to work out.
Unfortunately, motivation tends to fluctuate over time. When you start working out, you’ll probably be excited and motivated to get to the gym. But after a while, the newness begins to fade, and you find that your motivation is dwindling.
At this point, it’s important to remind yourself of why your training is important to you. What’s the purpose of you waking up at 5am during the week to go to the gym? Reminding yourself of that why can make a huge difference on the days when you’re tempted to skip out on a workout.
Facing a challenge that we haven’t discussed yet? In our next post, we’ll tackle obstacles like fearing failure, dealing with injuries, and trying to find the time to make it to the gym.
To learn more about the programs and classes we’re currently offering at Cannon Fitness and Performance in Houston, contact us today.