Training in your comfort zone is a surefire way to never get the body you want. After all, the majority of change happens when you are pushing yourself on the outer edge of your capabilities.

The main issue here, however, is that many people don’t like pushing themselves to the edge. Instead, they would rather remain within their limits even if it means being stuck with a body they don’t want.

So here is how to bust out of your plateau:

1. Break out of your routine: We are creatures of habit, and exercise is no exception here. So trying something entirely new may seem daunting and a major pain. But if you venture out of your comfort zone and push your body in ways that it hasn’t been pushed before, you will notice some major changes.

2. Write down the risks: By quantifying the risks of going to the next level, more often than not, you will notice that they just aren’t that great. The key here is to not let the risks, or fear, linger in your mind’s eye. Write them down and they will lose their power.

3. Visualize the next level: Now this isn’t some type of psychological trick, although there are benefits in this department. It’s also a way to get your nervous system acclimatized to the new training or routine without having to physically go through it.

4. Don’t jump into it all at once: If you prefer tackling the next level one step at a time, then by all means do so. This is much better than simply never changing. By doing things one at a time, you will be able to transition with ease.

5. Get a partner: There is nothing better than to have someone along with you in the journey to going further. Even better, if you can start training with somebody that is already at the level you want to be at, you will get there faster.

So are you ready to take your workouts to the next level? If you have been training comfortable for some time, it’s time to change. This is the only way you are going to get the body you want!

Writer Katherine Crawford, a Harvard fitness physiologist and former arm fat sufferer, instructs women on how to get thin arms with exercise and diet. Discover how to get sexy and toned arms by exploring her blog about slim and toned arms now!