Lately, I’ve found myself standing on a plateau—not in the literal sense, but mentally and emotionally. It’s that place where things aren’t necessarily bad… but they aren’t moving forward either. A kind of neutral zone where momentum stalls, clarity blurs, and motivation hides behind the fog of “meh.”
I used to think plateaus were something to push through, like bad weather—just wait it out and hope for sunshine. But lately, I’ve started seeing them as invitations. What if plateaus aren’t punishment, but pause? What if they’re asking us to check in, reevaluate, and reconnect?
As I hit 44 this year I am noticing so many things change, from my skin feeling different, my irritability increasing, and my body moving differently (especially in the mornings LOL!) Things are just different! Here are just a few below.
– Weight gain, and I eat pretty clean but havn’t been watching my sugar intake, alcohol or grains
– Dry skin
– Mood changes (some drastic)
– Tired even when I have a great sleep
– Lack of focus
Can you relate?
So, you know me, I don’t just sit and wait this out and hope for the best! I check in with myself, what can I do to feel better. I started researching the gut and how our brain and our gut are like best friends (they both have to be working in sync for us to feel good). What I didn’t know about the gut is that we can damage it with stress, lifestyle and foods that our bodies don’ respond to. There are these things call microbes in our gut that keep it healthy and get rid of toxins. Without these microbes our bodies retract and do all the things we hate (bloating, weight gain, bad moods, headaches, cravings…and the list goes on and on.)
Okay so with all this said you are probably wondering what I am going to share with you. I am still in the process of learning but here are a few quick tips for you as you get started on your gut journey if you have been feelings similar things to me.
My exercise routine- I have leaned into heavier weights and focussing on muscle strength as well as recovery with my foam roller. I am not in the gym for hours. 25min a day of weight training 5-6x a week and I build in cardio 3-4x a week.
My nutrition- Okay this one is tough as I LOVE FOOD. However, I have really been focussing on removing breads (ie. meaning bread, bagel, english muffin, pancakes, muffins etc,). I will still have complex carbohydrates like oats, sweet potato, rice (just to name a few). I am staying away from sugar as much as I can, however, with the summer here I am indulging “some of the time.”
Alcohol-Limiting this. Again, it is summer and I will be honest there is nothing better than a cold beer at the cottage. However, I am really being mindful of how I feel and I am learning to not use this as a crutch. I may even get to the point where I remove it all together “who knows!”
WATER- this is my BEST FRIEND. I am drinking a ton of this. I drink about 3L on average every day which helps flush out anything my body needs to get rid of, it also helps with recovery and focus.
Supplements- I still use a vegan protein powder that I love! I also take B12 and beetroot (I am trying this for now, again part of my research). I am also trying a gut cleanse once a month (reach out if you want me to keep you updated on this!)
Lifestyle- I am still staying strong with my mindset work. However, I have added in meditation and mindfulness more than once a day. Stress is the number one culprit when it comes to weight gain, skin issues, and many other health-related diseases.
Stress Low + Exercise + Healthy Diet = Aging gracefully!
Plateaus aren’t detours—they’re part of the journey. You’re allowed to slow down. You’re allowed to not know. And you’re absolutely allowed to grow at your own pace.
If you’re sitting on your own plateau and want to explore it with someone who gets it—I’d love to be that support for you. Coaching isn’t always about reaching for the stars; sometimes it’s about understanding the ground beneath your feet.
Whether you’re curious about coaching or simply want a conversation, you can always reach out. No pressure, no performance. Just an honest space for you to be you.
As always, take care of yourself, wake up with you in mind, and ALWAYS start your day with kind words to yourself!
Michelle
Riding the Plateau: What It Means and Why It Matters
