There are any number of things you can do in your training that can make a huge difference in getting you the results you want. Some trainers believe in having a detailed programmed written out months in advance (sometimes up to a year), some recommend deloading every 4 or 5 weeks (not a bad idea).
There is something that I find I need to do every once in a while though: hit the reset button.
After months of training it is easy to forget some of the basic principles of a good program: good technique, don’t focus too much on the weight, follow you body and so on.
So after a while sometimes I like to just take a step back and reset my training. It takes a lot of discipline to hit the gym and load up a bar for squats without thinking “Well I got X reps last time, so I need to get Y reps now.” and just doing what feels right.
Now don’t misunderstand me here. Progress is an integral part of training, and you should always be looking to improve in some way shape or form, whether it’s another rep, set or more weight. However, it becomes easy after a while to lose track of that idea of progress and become obsessed with just putting more weight on or grinding out another rep.
I’m sure there are lots of trainers and people out there who won’t agree with me on this, but I have found this to be invaluable for my success. Even if it means taking a step back this has, in my experience, been an excellent thing to do.
Hitting reset could mean many different things: trying a new (or old) training method. Giving up a belt or some other supportive gear and getting strong without it. Lowering the weights on some lifts and focusing on clean technique without grinding out reps. Maybe you try out new movements, or go back to ones you haven’t used in a while.
If those are some issues that sound familiar to you, you might want to give this a shot.
Share your thoughts below.