TRAINING PLATEAUS

The first thing to do is to establish exactly what you want to do with your body and how you are going to do it.

You need to establish goals that are specific, achieveble, measureable, realisitic and timed.

If you just start exercising without establishing goals you'll get bored very quickly, stop getting results and may even give up.

Don't Fear a New Approach

Variety is a key point for growth and development, but it can be hard to let go of an established routine.

Do not forget your training is designed to achieve a specific goal; if you're not getting closer to that goal then it may be time to re-think your training strategy.

Periodised Training

No-one can train at the same level with the same exercises for the long-term and still get results.

A realistic approach is periodise your training into Macro, Meso and Micro-cycles; meaning your body will never get bored with the same routine and intensity.

This is especially important for advanced trainers whose bodies have become well adapted to regular training or may even be fatigued because they dont get adequate rest periods.

Don't forget your Circadian cycle either - your daily routine of sleep and wake cycles will also affect your bodies ability to repond to the stress of training.

If you are not sure how to periodise your training, then I can help you.

Together we will set-out a roadmap to your goals.

The Importance of Nutrition

Nutrition is integral to every trainer and athlete - no matter what your goal is.

Everbody has different nutritional needs; based upon your genetics, activity levels and goals.

Forget the bullsh*t you hear from the 'expert' in the gym; just as with training, what works with one person might not work for another.

But never forget that food is both the fuel and the materials you need to change and build your body.

Sleep and Adequate rest

Just as important as nutrition or the training itself.

You body repairs, grows and adapts when it has time to rest.

I like to compare training to digging a hole; you have to have enough time to fill it back in and then some if you want to improve the next time you train.

A good training schedule will allow for adequate rest and recovery, so that you can come back fully recovered to take on the challange of the next workout.

Supplements

Supplements are just that, a 'supplement' to already good nutrition, rest and training.

The right supplements can help by giving your body that little extra kick to make changes, get your to your goals a little bit quicker or even improve your results.

However there are many, many uneccessary and sometimes dangerous supplements out there, so be careful to research each supplement before you invest in it.

As with training, not all supplement approaches work for all people - So you may need to experiment to find the best approach for you.

Some of the supplements I DO reccommend are Protein powder, Branch Chain Amino Acids, Creatine (Ethyl-Ester is the most efficient form), Milk Thistle (to aid digestion) and Arginine (opens up blood vessels and works well with Creatine).

But never forget that supplements WILL NOT make up for a poor diet, lack of sleep or incorrect training!