At AIM Athletic in Langley BC, we focus on building strength, resilience, and long-term progress, whether you are training in a small group, working one on one with a coach, or rehabbing an injury. No matter where you are in your fitness journey, the principle of stress driving adaptation remains the same. Your body responds to training by adapting to the demands placed on it, but for those adaptations to continue, the stimulus needs to progress. This is why progressive overload is so important. It is not just about lifting heavier weights, it is about consistently increasing the challenge in a way that promotes strength and recovery.
For newer members, full body workouts provide enough stress to stimulate muscle growth and strength gains. These sessions engage multiple muscle groups and allow for steady progress, which is why they are a staple in our small group training. However, as your training experience grows, so does the amount of work required to continue seeing improvement. At this point, increasing volume, adding sets, reps, or training days, can be one of the most effective ways to keep making progress. Personal training and active rehab sessions allow us to adjust training variables in a way that ensures members are progressing safely while managing fatigue and preventing injuries.
Tracking workouts is a great way to gauge when it is time to make an adjustment. If you notice that your weights have stalled for a few weeks, rather than immediately trying to lift heavier, consider adding an extra set to your key movements and monitor how your body responds. This gradual increase in workload can be the difference between a plateau and a breakthrough. Whether you are building strength, recovering from an injury, or refining your movement patterns, the key is to apply just enough stress to drive adaptation without overloading the system. Progress takes time, but small, strategic increases will lead to big changes over the long run.
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