CameronMartz
Fitness Instructor
DiverG and others,
It's only natural to begin feeling distracted from your fitness goals right now. This is known as the "6 to 8 Week Phenomenon," and it is so common, it was covered in one of my undergrad psychology courses. No kidding!
There are several factors that play into this. First, at 6-8 weeks, any routine that you are doing has lost its novelty. This makes it more difficult to stay interested in what you're doing, whether it's diet or exercise or both.
Second, if you've been working hard without enough recovery, physical stress will begin to catch up with you at this point. Minor injuries, soreness, and general fatigue start to draw on your enthusiasm.
Third, by now you have likely seen some good results, feeding your power of rationalization. "Hey, I've already lost 'x' pounds, so I can afford to skip a day of exercise, overeat, etc."
There is no easy way to get over this hump, but there are techniques to help. First (yes, another list <g>), take a break for a few days. Just chill out, rest up, and recharge your batteries. You won't lose two months worth of fitness gains in a weekend.
Next, change your schedule- do *not* do the same thing every day. In fact, you need at least one day per week where you are not doing any exercise at all. Remember, exercise breaks you down- it's the subsequent rest that gives you what you need to get fitter.
Also, pick a greater variety of sources of exercise. Swimming is great, but you can try running, cycling, kickboxing, power yoga, etc.
Finally, add some calories to your daily intake. If your hunger is keeping you awake, then you are likely pushing your body into too much of a caloric deficit. Sure, you might lose more weight this way short-term, but you are sure to gain it all back and then some if you are that restrictive.
One more thing, guilt is a dangerous emotion for people trying to improve their fitness. Do not get into the cycle of doing extra exercise or eating less than normal to make up for a bad day. This will only worsen your metabolic swings and really crank up your cravings.
Have a fun, exercise and guilt-free Memorial Day weekend!
Cameron
It's only natural to begin feeling distracted from your fitness goals right now. This is known as the "6 to 8 Week Phenomenon," and it is so common, it was covered in one of my undergrad psychology courses. No kidding!
There are several factors that play into this. First, at 6-8 weeks, any routine that you are doing has lost its novelty. This makes it more difficult to stay interested in what you're doing, whether it's diet or exercise or both.
Second, if you've been working hard without enough recovery, physical stress will begin to catch up with you at this point. Minor injuries, soreness, and general fatigue start to draw on your enthusiasm.
Third, by now you have likely seen some good results, feeding your power of rationalization. "Hey, I've already lost 'x' pounds, so I can afford to skip a day of exercise, overeat, etc."
There is no easy way to get over this hump, but there are techniques to help. First (yes, another list <g>), take a break for a few days. Just chill out, rest up, and recharge your batteries. You won't lose two months worth of fitness gains in a weekend.
Next, change your schedule- do *not* do the same thing every day. In fact, you need at least one day per week where you are not doing any exercise at all. Remember, exercise breaks you down- it's the subsequent rest that gives you what you need to get fitter.
Also, pick a greater variety of sources of exercise. Swimming is great, but you can try running, cycling, kickboxing, power yoga, etc.
Finally, add some calories to your daily intake. If your hunger is keeping you awake, then you are likely pushing your body into too much of a caloric deficit. Sure, you might lose more weight this way short-term, but you are sure to gain it all back and then some if you are that restrictive.
One more thing, guilt is a dangerous emotion for people trying to improve their fitness. Do not get into the cycle of doing extra exercise or eating less than normal to make up for a bad day. This will only worsen your metabolic swings and really crank up your cravings.
Have a fun, exercise and guilt-free Memorial Day weekend!
Cameron
