I was as usual browsing through t-rag and I came across and article (it's recent) called 6 Tips from 6 Coaches by Ben Bruno.
Bret Contreras
Bret wrote something which I learnt while doing Eric Cressey's Maximum Strength Program in 2008/09:
The biggest thing I've changed is to quit obsessing about progressive overload.
Sure, I want to keep getting stronger and more muscular, but I realize that I'm not going to set a record every time I go to the gym.
This is really important. This is why, even in Maximum Strength, Cressey has certain exercises for which you are supposed to take the same weight for the same volume week in and week out. It isn't likely that all your lifts will keep going up so you have to have some maintenance lifts. I'm not referring to the main movements here. But, this applies to major movers as well. As Eric (our Eric) has just posted, he encourages people who want to get good at Deadlifting to progress on Deadlifts but "maintain" the Squat.
Ofcourse, after this…Bret follows this with:
Around once per month, I'll see if I can set a personal record on squats, bench press, deadlifts, or weighted neutral grip pull ups. However, I'm done trying to use more weight for exercises like lateral raises, rear delt raises, pullovers, shrugs, and hammer curls.
A PR once a month on Squats, Bench, Deadlifts or Pull-ups? Wow….
And more weight on exercises like the beach ones he's listed?
When I read his original comment, exercises which popped into MY head were: Weighted Pull-ups, Pistol squats, Rows, etc. Slightly more meaningful exercises…not "hammer curls".
Mark Twain:
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything."
"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow."