For fitness buffs, there is nothing worse than the dreaded plateau. A plateau can happen at any time to any person, regardless of their fitness level. Once you hit the plateau, your progress and results come to a standstill, and it can be very discouraging to keep going. All the steps you’ve been using with positive outcomes up to this point suddenly seem useless. So, what can you do to break free of this stage? Is it permanent? Will this be the best it gets?

Before you get too frustrated, here are five tips for breaking through a fitness plateau. You don’t have to remain stagnant, and you can start to realize results again.

It’s Time to Embrace Variety

If you were to ask a dozen fitness gurus what their advice is to overcome a plateau, the majority would likely suggest variety. Yes, it can be that simple. Switching up the exercises and routine can have significant results. Variety can also make your routine more interesting and enjoyable, as you never want to get bored with exercising.

Some great examples include enrolling in a fitness class you’ve never taken, joining a sports team, embracing high-intensity cardio, and giving strength training a break, and so forth. Whatever you are putting on the back burner for now is just that — temporary. You can go back to it at a later date, but it’s worth switching things up right now.

By trying new activities and exercises you will work different muscle groups, tone different areas, and try different movements. Your body won’t be used to these new exercises so expect to feel and see results.

Increase Your Intensity Level

Sometimes a plateau simply means you are no longer being challenged and it may be time to boost your intensity level. You can also work out for longer periods and more frequently. This is common with those who are new to exercise and who start with light activities. You’ll see initial results but that won’t last. Eventually, you need to boost the intensity and move to the next level of challenge.

Give Supplements a Try

Supplements can be another avenue to explore as a way to overcome a fitness plateau. You want to look for something that can specifically help you build muscle while getting lean like this Turkesterone supplement. Keep in mind that if you choose to use supplements, some can take a few weeks to a few months to get the full results, so you’ll need to be patient and stay consistent.

Examine Your Diet

All too often people depend on exercise alone to reach their fitness goals and rarely will it be enough. The best results can be achieved when you use a combination of regular exercise with healthy eating habits. This may be a good time to be honest about what you’re eating and where you can make improvements to your diet.

If you feel overwhelmed with choices, portion size, nutritional benefits and so forth, try using a meal tracker app This will provide you with all the details you need and make tracking a breeze.

Enlist a Fitness Buddy

Motivation can also be a problem for some people, especially once you hit a plateau. A good solution for lack of motivation is to get a fitness buddy, someone to whom you feel accountable. If you know that someone is depending on you to work out with them, chances are you will follow through and not make excuses to skip a workout.

Each of these tips will help you to shake things up so you can move past your fitness plateau and get back on track.