As coaches we know that progressive overload matters if you want to get stronger or fitter. We build this into your programming at The Wild Movement so that in the long term you get the results you are after.
However – There is a time when the variables that largely make up progressive overload really don’t matter!
When you find yourself thinking that conditions aren’t ideal for training and you should ‘probably just skip it’ is when intensity and volume don’t matter.
Let’s say you have been sick and you know you won’t be able to train as you would be able to when you were rested well and healthy. In this instance it’s easy to think there is no point because the intensity (amount of weight on the bar as a % to your heaviest for 1 rep) will be too heavy or the volume (sets and reps) will be too taxing. That may just be the correct thinking – its not always wise to try and push yourself so hard when the recovery metrics aren’t there.
When it’s ‘go hard or miss a session’ there is a sweet spot in between that produces long term success
What we do suggest though is to simply disregard the numbers, put on your training clothes and tick a box for the day.
So many of our positive habits and behaviours are anchored by our training and these don’t know the difference how ‘hard’ we push – they just need it to happen for us to keep the momentum going.
So next time you want to skip the workout or go the extreme other end of the habit that you want to do because conditions aren’t perfect ask yourself can you simply turn up, complete your work with perfect form and tick a box you can be a little better overall come tomorrow?
