How to Get Off a Fitness Plateau (Part 1)

A few quick tips on how to get off a fitness plateau.

Pump it up. Instead of 40 minutes on the treadmill, pump up your metabolism with high-intensity intervals. Do four minutes of any cardiovascular exercise as hard as you can; then two minutes of strength-building exercises (using free weights or weight machines). Repeat this “harder/easier” cycle five times. (The magic cardio-to-weights ratio is 2-to-1.) Your post-exercise metabolic rate and fat loss will increase much more than if you exercised 40 minutes steadily at an average pace, and you’re also building lean muscle mass. This is the reason why I suggest you try my 15 minute Jump Rope circuit. Its fun, effective and you don’t need to be on a treadmill for an hour.

Shake it up. Walking doesn’t do much to help you lose weight, even though it’s good forx  your health. Instead, mix up your cardio intervals by throwing in new things every week: the elliptical machine, the recumbent bike, the rowing machine, the stair climber. Keep your body guessing.

Walking for an hour is not really an effective cardio exercise. I found my cardio to be better when it’s short and explosive.
Eat every 3-4 hours. This  keeps my metabolism working fast. Try a breakfast – snack – lunch – snack – dinner – snack method, but make sure you are careful with the portions and keep the snacks healthy.