Advice for Breaking Plateaus
There are few things more frustrating to a powerlifter than not getting stronger, also known as plateau-ing. However, if you're in a powerlifting plateau, you're not alone, and we have some advice to help.
If you have been in the sport of powerlifting for an extended period and have undergone several training cycles/preps, you have more than likely experienced a plateau or extended periods where you have seen little to no progression. This article is not intended to have a one size fits all recipe that will be a remedy to all of your problems but rather, it is meant to share some insight on things that you can focus on today to get the numbers going up again. Finding yourself in this position can be discouraging. But most of us have been there, and there is plenty of information out there to help you break through your plateau and find your true potential.
Ask Your Community of Lifters
First, take a look around at your environment. Are you around like-minded individuals? Do they value the same work ethic that you exemplify? Be a sponge; listen to everyone better than you are. Ask them questions, ask them how they got to that point. The answers may vary from your genetic freak to the person who just flat-out has the heart to make it happen.
Still, one thing I can guarantee is that there are hard work and perseverance somewhere in that conversation, years and years of seeing little to no progress only to keep coming back and seeing all their hard work come to fruition at some point during their training tenure.
2. What Are Your Training Weaknesses?
Next, let’s talk about taking a look in the mirror. On the contrary, let’s say that you follow your program to the T, but you are still stuck. Some things I encourage you to look at within yourself and ask are:
How much QUALITY sleep am I getting?
How much am I eating daily?
How much time am I putting towards learning more on how to stay injury-free?
How much time as a whole am I consciously thinking about doing things conducive to my recovery that will enhance my training the next day and the sessions to follow?
Everything that deals with your self-care is something that contributes to the big picture in your training.
3. Be Patient
All that I mentioned above, are by far, the easiest things to manage as an athlete, yet for some, it could be the easiest to neglect and overlook. Yes, every training cycle and prep needs to be different, whether that be variation choice, volume strategies, training frequencies, there needs to be something that will continue to drive adaptation at a rate that one can recover from. But beyond that, you must challenge your patience and be comfortable with the fact that you will inevitably reach a time where there is little to no progression. Persevere, keep your head down and keep going. The hard work that you continue to put in will show its face at a later date. It may not be tomorrow, next week, next month, or the entire year for that matter. The determination to keep going is what separates the successful from the ones who come around just to chat and get a nice clip for the internet.
Vinny Clarin
Need some more help blasting through your plateaus? Our powerlifting coaches (Like Vinny!) can help! Click here for more information about coaching (Online or in-person) or email us for more info at info@beaststrongpowerhouse.com.