Why are we SOOOO down on the humble Plateau?? Thoughts of this Community filled my mind WHEN....

[psarapsych]

Slightly off track... up a mountain in fact... I found myself wandering the plateau....

It had been wonderful, I had just managed a simple but steep and craggy climb to the top of the Rax. I had gambolled down the Elysian Alpine 'meadow', abounding in autumnal glory, to the site of my salvation: an open mountain hut serving wonderful coffee and bratwurst.

My aim was to traverse the Rax and stumble clumsily down the other side. So on leaving the cosy aroma of the Hut I had but one small-ish incline before reaching the plateau, across which i could comfortably ramble until the knee grinding, downward slope. However, I had so enjoyed the rugged climb and the effort it required of me, that I was rather sad to leave behind my most challenging stretch.

The Plateau was beautiful and I could walk along at a comfortable pace (half expecting Marmots to come out and play about my feet - ) enjoying the beauty of the mountain range around me. As I ambled along my thoughts rested upon our wonderful community and the many posts about Plateaux with regard to running and weight loss....

Why do we get fed up with our personal plateaux? I got to thinking that having reached a plateau meant that we had already come a very long and challenging way to achieve the rewards of a bit of comfort before buckling up and moving on in a less comfortable fashion. I knew I had a rather difficult time-frame in which to get down to make an appointment that afternoon and I thought this is like our desire to run that bit faster, or lose that bit more weight quicker than we are presently doing - in order to get there faster. BUT... as much as the appointment was something I was really looking forward to (akin to losing that last stone or running that extra mile a bit faster), I didn't actually want the journey to stop.

And this was my AHA moment... I wanted to stay awhile and enjoy the glow of my climbing achievement in this undemanding part of my hike. I wondered... if I actually changed the way I thought of a plateau in my personal circumstances, would I enjoy it more.

Soooooooo, this is how I am going to deal with those plateaux from now on. My personal plateau reminds me that I have come a long way, along a difficult path and also that I have actually got up and done it. The plateau reminds me that it is a resting place before the next, harder challenge (for me, it is MUCH easier walking uphill than downhill) for which I need to psych myself. Finding myself on a plateau will remind me to enjoy it and keep on doing what I've been doing to get there - following the plan, one foot in front of another. It reminds me that I may be a bit slower because the original challenge is behind me and that my body needs time to re-group before the next.

Most of all, my plateaux will now remind me how grateful I am to my body and mental state that it has allowed me to get this far and how I now need to be mindful of where I am so I can map where I want to go from a peaceful position.

These are just my ramblings (huh... no pun intended) and a bit of home-spun philosophy but I offer them as an aid to anyone who may be having a hard time on their plateau.

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

Great Blog Sara! I especially like "for me, it is MUCH easier walking uphill than downhill" -- how true indeed. The compexities of the human mind!

[psarapsych Graduate in reply to DeliaItaly]

Tell me about it Delia :-). I have a hiking companion who goes very slowly uphill puffing and panting "why do we do this - I hate walking uphill" but she absolutely loves hiking as a whole. It is complex - you make me wonder about my own state of mind as I labour up a spitefully steep slope with nothing but shale and slippery stuff... I think it's the sense of wonderment, of reaching a place that is clear - yes, I guess I know that I'll have had a good clean out of the cobwebs - a great motivating factor!!

[notbad Graduate]

Wonderful post, thank you for sharing. These words of wisdom are appropriate to me as I find myself frustrated by the fact I have reached a plateau with my running pace. You're so right, I should enjoy & savour how far I have come and stop obsessing over my stats!

[psarapsych Graduate]

Absolutely 'notbad' - good for you. I just don't get why we beat ourselves up - imagine if we were given the choice of going back to the place we were in before reaching the plateau!! I know what I'd say. Anyway, stats are stats but do they have any worth if they're stopping you from enjoying what you've already achieved. Through statistical research we were always told, "your stats guide you but they don't make the research" - sounds like good advice to me and I've only just remembered that so thank you for getting it out of my archives LOL

[Pearsey]

Wonderful post Sara-came at the right time for me, as I have reached a plateau with my weight loss, and instead of centering on my achievement over the last 9 weeks, I 'm thinking how I need to lose more! 5Kgs in 9 weeks is good going :-).

So, I now need to regroup and centre on what I have achieved-fantastic weight loss in 9 weeks and running for 30 minutes non stop-Graduation on Friday.

Thank you so much for that Sara-Bless you!

[psarapsych Graduate]

I'm really pleased Pearsey :-). When I lost a load of weight it took months and I wish I had know then what I've realised now - I would have been a lot kinder to myself!!! You must feel amazing having lost 5kgs and that amount is almost a stone - no small achievement I'd say AND you must be feeling the difference as you run :-). I'm in a re-grouping stage at the moment and it's actually quite nice to just look about me and not panic about the next lot of 'pain' to get through!! It'll be there and waiting when my mind and body are ready. And you have a wonderful run to look forward to - minus 5kgs - imagine if you'd been trying it 5kgs heavier.... Good luck Pearsey, I'll be thinking of you very especially as I'm doing W6R3 on Friday - 25 mins non-stop. Sooooo all power to you and go like the wind, Sara x