Progressive overload is the gradual increase of stress placed upon the body during exercise training. It's the biological mechanism that forces your muscles to adapt, grow larger, and get stronger. Your body is an incredibly efficient machine. If you do 3 sets of 10 push-ups every day for a year, your body will adapt to make those 30 push-ups as easy as possible, but it won't grow beyond that. How do you progressively overload? There are several ways: 1. Increase the Resistance (Add weight) 2. Increase the Volume (Do more reps or sets) 3. Decrease Rest Time (Make the cardiovascular system work harder) 4. Improve Form and Time Under Tension (Slow down the eccentric portion of the movement) Track your workouts. If you aren't progressing in at least one of these areas, it's time to change up your routine.
