Every fitness enthusiast, at some point, has faced a plateau in their fitness journey. It's during these times that the importance of managing expectations comes into play. The truth is, building muscle and changing your body composition is not an overnight process. It requires patience, consistency, and most importantly, a measurable approach.

For starters, it's essential to be aware that the progress will be gradual. The changes you'll see won't be drastic or immediate. Instead, the aim should be to identify consistent progressions in your body weight, performance, and measurements. A slow yet steady increase in caliper measurements also signifies progress in the right direction.

It's all about converting your training into measurable metrics. Without seeing discernible progress in these areas, muscle growth won't follow. This is where many people seem to falter.

A common mistake is frequently changing your training routines. While variety is the spice of life, it might not be the best strategy for growth. Similarly, lifting random weights, relying heavily on high rep supersets, or reverse pyramid training can mess with your progress. These methods complicate measuring your training and leave you with vague, largely unhelpful data.

And let's not forget the impact on your recovery. If you can't measure your training accurately, you can't optimize your recovery. It's as simple as that.

This brings us to another critical aspect hardly talked about - the skill of working at a low Reps-in-Reserve (RIR). While most fitness coaching assessments factor in safety (if at all), the consistency in technique often gets missed.

To truly gauge your progress, it's essential that you maintain consistent technique in your workouts, and that includes the skill of working at a low RIR. In the grand scheme of things, it's not only about safety - it's also about honing your skills and ensuring that every rep counts.

Remember, consistency is king in this game of growth. So, as you strive for progress, remember to manage your expectations, focus on the measurable aspects of your training, and most importantly, remain consistent in your technique. In the end, it's always the slow and steady that wins the race.