You hear a lot about the importance of variety in your training

Many experts claim sticking with the same routine for too long will result in your muscles getting used to it, putting a stop to gains.

This is and isn’t true. Let me explain…

When you switch to a new routine, you’ll probably notice some fast gains at first. This is due to a variety of reasons.

Without going overboard on the details, one reason for this is essentially due to doing something ‘new’. And since it’s new, it takes you a while before you get comfortable with the form, and get efficient in doing the exercise

But most recommend making changes without taking these things into account. They say when progress slows down, it’s time to change.

The reason you’re slowing down is because you’re approaching the limit of your abilities at that moment. The fast gains you made in the first few weeks of a new routine are due to the effort being within your current abilities.

And we know you make gains when you train near your limit, not well within it.

So people who are constantly changing their routines too early are missing this point. They aren’t spending enough time near their max to force their body to adapt and become stronger.

They’re essentially ‘leaving gains on the table.’

So, if you don’t give your body a chance to actually get into a ‘groove’ with a routine, you won’t get to the point of having to really dig in and train near your limit.

It takes at least a month’s worth of using a routine before you ‘get into the groove.’ And when you mentally and physically get accustomed to a new routine, that’s when your body has reached the point of making some gains.

Ultimately, as I said before, progress is the real indicator of when to change a routine, not some arbitrary number given to you by some person, including me.

So don’t jump ship when the going gets rough and progress slows down a bit, this is what you’ve been waiting for.

And keep in mind, there’s a difference between ‘slowing down’ and having to really dig in to keep the gains climbing, and not being able to add weight or reps etc, no matter what you do. So don’t understand this as meaning you never need to change your routine.

OK, now that I’ve got that cleared up, get in the gym, and put this to use!

Train Smart, Train hard

Ray Toulany

PS: Don’t forget to eat a nutrition plan that meets the demands of your training. Otherwise, you’re progress can be stopped dead in its tracks.

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