The Problem With Progressive Overload

The first time I heard about the concept of progressive overload… I was hooked.

“So you’re saying all I have to do is add a little bit of weight to the bar each time I do that exercise, and I’ll get jacked and strong? I’m in!”

(Okay, maybe not an exact quote, but that was the idea…)

And so it went.

Session after session, I was slapping an extra 5 pounds on the bar and before I knew it…

I was as strong as an ox!

At least by comparison.

There was a point in my training history where I was recovering from an easily avoidable lower back injury, and for some reason decided to squat 3 times per week.

From late August 2013 to mid October 2013, I took my squat from 135lbs to 255lbs for 5 reps.

But by the time I was hitting 255…

My form was absolute garbage.

I even noted that in the video I made back then lol

Not to mention, I had aches and pains in my shoulders, lower back, and hips that I didn’t need to have knowing what I know now.

Even then, that doesn’t take away from the power of the classic progressive overload approach.