I used to get hung up on numbers. Maybe it’s an occupational hazard. More weight on the bar meant progress…. right?
Not always.
One of the biggest lessons lifting has taught me is that progress is rarely linear – especially once you’re no longer a novice lifter. At some point, what holds you back is no longer a lack of effort or inadequate training, It becomes about learning to listen to your body instead of constantly trying to overpower it.
Broken bones. Tendinopathies. Longer recovery times. Under-fueling. Poor periodization. Hormonal fluctuations. Just some of the spanners that get thrown into the works over time.
And that’s where the real learning begins.
Understanding how to balance training with recovery. Finding the right ratio of strength work to cardiovascular training. Training tendons, not just muscles. Fueling properly. Supplementing wisely. Adjusting instead of forcing.
All that is part of the process too.
Because what I’m building now isn’t just a heavier squat or deadlift. It’s strength, resilience, power, bone density, confidence, and a body that can carry me well into later life.
You lose what you don’t track. And the learning never really stops.
That’s what makes this journey so interesting.