How Do You Get Past a Strength Plateau?
Has Your Journey to Gain Muscle Hit a Wall? 1 Trainer Says to Look at These 3 Things
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On a similar note, you might need to up the intensity. "Maybe you've gotten a little complacent over time where what was working when you first started out doesn't work anymore because you've hit a point where you're past that beginner stage," Paul said. And, someone who's been training for 20 years, he explained, is going to require a lot more stimulus to have muscle growth than somebody who's been doing exercise for 20 days.
Kicking it up a notch doesn't have to be about variation, he said, but more so about progressing what you're doing. So add some volume or increase the number of days that you're training per week, he suggested. (Other tips worth noting from experts we've spoken to in the past include making sure you're staying hydrated and getting plenty of sleep.)
Bottom line? Don't be discouraged if you've hit a plateau. "The biggest thing with a plateau is don't stop because you hit one," Paul said. "Keep going and just try to play with some of the variables to see if you can get to that desired result." Stay consistent yet open to change.