Progressive overload is the idea that to increase any aspect of physical fitness (muscle mass, strength, stamina, etc.), your
muscles need to be continually put under increased stress, you have to force your muscles to perform more work than they previously have. Simple, right?
Most beginners apply, knowingly or not, this principle. They start training by lifting little weight, progressively increasing it up to a point. Let’s say the typical skinny guy starts out lifting 40 pounds on the bench press. Week after week he adds 5-10 pounds until he lifts 80 pounds.
Sounds familiar? Can you relate to this example? Have you seen someone doing it? That´s the progressive overload principle, the core of all physical training, and forms a solid basis for successful training.
At a certain point, things get messy. This guy can´t lift more than 80 pounds. I reached my peak, he thinks. And start looking for other ways to progress like advanced training programs, revolutionary diet plans, magic pills… It´s ok, no judgment. We all have the right to explore whatever paths catch our attention.
The mistake here is to think that progress is exponential when it really is linear. The boy in our example soon manages to double the amount of weight he lifts (from 40 to 80 pounds) and hopes to double the weight he lifts again. But he gets frustrated because from 80 pounds onwards the progress is not as spectacular as at the beginning.
The green line represents exponential growth, the red line represents linear growth:
I actually remember him and all the Weider products by him back in the day. My ex won Mr. California once and was a big advocate of body building.
Wow! You always surprise me, Jolie 😃 I’d bet you had to do a lot of sacrifices to help and support your ex back in the day. There should be prizes for bodybuilder’s family and friends, not just for the competitors, right? 😉
Big hugs!
Actually, he did that some time after we split up. He had been an alcoholic, teaching our girls how to pour a mug of beer without a head and up until then refused to acknowledge he had a problem. After the split, he realized he had to do something, so he redirected his focus. It’s too bad it took our split and that of his next marriage for him do do something. Now, he rides his bike all over the world as well. I’m happy he finally took care of himself.
So sad he needed a divorce to realize he had to change. He lost a great woman!
Now, if you´re happy, it´s all that matters ;)
Big hugs!
I’m happy. Got a great guy now.
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