Brigid's Keys to Success in Health and Fitness Week 9: Overcoming Roadblocks

-Brigid Lossing

I've been using the metaphor of a road when discussing health and fitness for the past several weeks because, in my experience, achieving and maintaining health and fitness is very much a journey. And just like any other journey, it's possible to be having a fantastic time driving down the road, enjoying the scenery and feeling good about how far you've gone… until you see the “Road Work” signs or yet another series of potholes up ahead.

Just like roadblocks on the road can turn an enjoyable trip into a chore, road blocks on our health and fitness journey can also make us wonder if the journey is worth taking.

Of course, the “roadblocks” we face on our health and fitness journeys are different than the ones we deal with on literal roads. Instead of construction and potholes, the biggest obstacles we face when it comes to health and fitness are boredom and plateaus. When you just can't face another run, or the thought of another indoor cycling class makes you want to think about anything else, you're facing the roadblock of boredom.

And when the scale hasn't moved in a few weeks even though you're keeping to your dietary and exercise commitments, you've hit the dreaded plateau. But take heart! – just like we all eventually leave road construction and potholes behind us, boredom and plateaus are also obstacles we can all overcome with a little effort.

When you find yourself feeling bored with your exercise routine and/or your scale has been showing you the same number for a few weeks, I suggest you get out and review your food and exercise journal. If you've been eating the same meals for a several days or you've been attending the same indoor cycling classes or doing the exact same exercises – well, it's easy to see why you're getting bored, isn't it? In your case it's time to start varying your menu, trying different classes set to different music, or adding something specifically fun to your exercise routine – for example, a dance class. RydeOn! University has partnered with Busch's Fresh Food Market to provide you with a range of interesting healthy recipes to try – take a look back through our old newsletters and blog posts and find something delicious with which to spice up your diet.

If the problem is a scale that doesn't want to move, the questions you need to ask yourself are somewhat different. Is it time to add to your exercise routine, or step up your current routine a bit?  If you're allowing yourself desserts two days a week, do you want to cut that back to one or switch to a lower-calorie dessert?

The point here is that there are no wrong answers in either situation. If you're facing the roadblock of boredom, only you know what types of activities are most likely to get you excited about exercising and healthy eating again. And if you're faced with a plateau, it's up to you to decide just how many more changes you are willing and able to make to achieve your original goal.

But as you're making these decisions don't make them from a place of discouragement. You can achieve the goals you've set for yourself and you can do so while enjoying a varied, interesting diet and doing exercises that bring you joy as well as fitness. All it takes is re-committing to your “destination” – and finding your own unique detours around those roadblocks!