The Growth Through Adversity Podcast

Progressive Overload: The Science Behind Muscle Growth

Ragnar "The War-Wolf" Stegall Season 3 Episode 8

Most lifters don’t understand why they’ve stopped growing.
It’s not genetics. It’s not your program.
It’s the lack of progressive overload — the single most important law of strength and hypertrophy.

Your body only grows when it’s forced to adapt to a new level of stress.
If the load, volume, or intensity doesn’t increase, your body has zero reason to change.

Here’s how I teach my clients to break this down 👇

🔥 Vertical Overload (Adding Weight):
— The classic move. Gradually increase load on the bar while maintaining form and rep range.
— Forces your muscles, joints, and CNS to adapt to higher tension.
— Example: 225 → 230 → 235 over 3–4 weeks = measurable progress.

🔥 Horizontal Overload (Adding Reps):
— Same weight, more total work.
— Push the rep range higher before bumping load again.
— Example: 225x6 → 225x8 → then increase to 230x6.

💡 The Science:
Tension + Volume + Time = Hypertrophy Stimulus.
By manipulating these variables, you create adaptive resistance — forcing your body to respond with new muscle tissue, strength, and density.

That’s how I build savages.
We don’t chase pumps. We chase progression.

📩 DM me “OVERLOAD” on Instagram
and I’ll send you my progressive overload framework — how to structure your training blocks so you’re never stuck again.

Connect with Ragnar — Join the Wolf-Pack

💪 Apply for Coaching:
https://primalfitness.fillout.com/Application/

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https://www.instagram.com/thebeastwithin9/

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▶️ YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw0HLq3TZVkt3VQpyq7kweg

This isn’t fitness fluff. This is war.
If you’re ready to destroy the old you and forge a savage life—click the link and apply now. Spots are limited.