Progressive overload
Progressive overload is the gradual increase of training demand over time so the body keeps having a reason to adapt. It can be applied by adding weight, adding reps or sets, shortening rest, improving range of motion or increasing weekly frequency. Load is simply the most visible of those variables.
Progressive overload
Progressive overload is the gradual increase of training demand over time so the body keeps having a reason to adapt. It can be applied by adding weight, adding reps or sets, shortening rest, improving range of motion or increasing weekly frequency. Load is simply the most visible of those variables.
In practice
The client who plateaus almost never plateaus from lack of effort: they plateau because nobody moved a single variable in six weeks.
Related terms
Assisted progressionAssisted progression is load progression where the software writes the weights and reps of upcoming sessions from the sets, reps and RIR the client logged, while the coach keeps the decisions: the routine does not reach the client until they send it, any week they edit drops out of the calculation permanently, and automatic progression switches on and off globally and client by client.Training volumeTraining volume is the total amount of work done in a periodDeloadA deload is a planned period, almost always a week, in which volume or intensity comes down so the body can finish absorbing the accumulated workPeriodizationPeriodization is organizing training into blocks with different goals and loads over time, so an athlete arrives at a given moment in the best possible state and stops stallingProgressive overload isn't just adding weight: rep progression builds muscle tooSee the whole glossary
