Stuck in a fitness rut? Feeling like your workouts aren't yielding results anymore? You might be missing a crucial element: progressive overload. But what *is* it? Simply put, progressive overload means gradually increasing the demands you place on your body during exercise.
Think of it like this: your body adapts to stress. If you consistently lift the same weight, perform the same number of reps, or run the same distance, your muscles will eventually stop growing and your endurance will plateau. Progressive overload forces your body to adapt further, leading to continued improvements in strength, size, and performance.
How do you implement it? There are several ways! You can increase the weight you lift, add more repetitions, perform more sets, decrease rest time, or even try more challenging variations of exercises. The key is to make small, consistent changes over time. Don't jump in too fast – listen to your body and avoid injury. By understanding and applying progressive overload, you'll be well on your way to achieving your fitness goals and shattering those plateaus!
