Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple

It doesn't work like that.

So inevitably you end up training or many of us have trained in such a way that we don't

injured something, tweaked something, form failed because we got so focused on just lifting more weight, lifting more weight, lifting more weight.

So I agree that a slower progression could be better, but that's also the power of just trying to add another rep instead of trying to add weight week in and week out.

I think it's also making sure that you are –

using proper technique and full range of motion.

Because that's one of the other things that is often the first to go when we really try to load up and load up and load up.

And you see this with people squatting and benching all the time.

They're just adding another plate, but then cutting the range of motion short to accommodate that additional load.

And so that's not really progressive overload because you changed your range of motion.

So I think, especially if a lift is technically demanding, something like a hinge, you know, deadlift, good morning, for a lot of people who've never done that movement pattern, it can be really difficult to...

just develop that kinesthetic awareness of where am I in space?

Am I bending my knees too much or not enough?

Am I starting to round my upper back?

And when you can really understand the proper form, then you know how to load it.

Well, I'll tell you this.

We have survey data looking at how many people report experiencing menstrual symptoms, things like cramps and low back pain, lack of motivation, irritability.

And 75, 80% of women report feeling those symptoms.

And none of them report changing their training in response to those symptoms.

So not to say that you shouldn't, but typically, at least where the data shows, it's not that common that people are overhauling their training, even in response to menstrual symptoms.