Ripped Dad: Fit After 45 by Matt Worthy

Author:Matt Worthy [Worthy, Matt]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2018-01-18T00:00:00+00:00

Plateaus and Tracking Performance

In the first century AD, the Roman philosopher and statesman Seneca said it best, “Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbour he is making for, no wind is the right wind.” [137] It is the same with fitness; if you do not have goals and you do not measure progress, it can become impossible to see progress once the initial big weight loss occurs. To add to this, there are times when you will have plateaus, so seeing where you have come from and where you are going is important as a mental motivator.

Plateaus are part of the game with a long-term fitness lifestyle. If you persist long enough, you are going to deal with them. If you get stuck in a plateau for too long, though, motivation can wane significantly. You could even give up completely on your quest to get ripped.

The reason is because progress is essential to motivation. When progress stalls, the human psyche can flounder. Tony Robbins, the master of self-development, explains, “If you want to have ongoing joy and fulfillment in your life, the secret is just one word – progress. Progress equals happiness. While achievements and material things may excite you for the moment, the only thing that’s going to make you happy long-term is knowing that you’re making progress. To do this, you must remember: While change is automatic – progress is not. Progress results from actively and consciously choosing to create a life you love; a life where you can’t wait to jump out of bed in the morning because you are growing, contributing, impacting and serving.” [138]

Recognizing plateaus when they do occur and understanding why they are occurring is the best solution to pushing beyond them. Plateaus can occur at any time in a training routine. Plateaus are best defined as true flat spots or regressions in your weight loss and muscle-building plan.

But before identifying a flat spot or a regression as a true plateau, you need to assess the situation. Are you in “the dip” or are you in a true plateau? The dip is a reference to the book by author and entrepreneur Seth Godin by the same name. Mr. Godin explains that when you first start almost anything, the progress is rapid: in fitness, at first, pounds drop off easily, inches disappear from your waist, and strength explodes. “And then the Dip happens. The Dip is the long slog between starting and mastery.” Progress slows down. What was new now seems monotonous. This is the point at which many people give up and quit. [139]

Ask yourself, especially if you are relatively new to fitness: am I in a true plateau or am in the dip? If you are in the dip, understand that if you truly want to get that ripped body (and you definitely can): “The people who set out to make it through the Dip—the people who invest the time and the energy and

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