Episode
067 Why you’re not progressing (and why it might not be a plateau)
- Podcast
- Hypertrophy Past and Present
- Published
- Aug 31, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4424
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://share.transistor.fm/s/38b3b832
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Summary
In this episode of Hypertrophy Past & Present, Jake and Chris begin by reviewing Stuart McRobert’s 1989 hardgainer routine, a minimalist two-day-per-week program designed as an alternative to the increasingly extreme bodybuilding routines of the late 1980s. The conversation then explores an important distinction: is every period of stalled progress really a plateau, or are there times when we should simply expect progress to slow or stop? Key topics include: Stuart McRobert’s 1989 twice-weekly full-body hardgainer routine The difference between a true plateau and a program that was never capable of producing continued progress Why strength gains can sometimes make a poorly designed hypertrophy program appear to be working Why life stress, poor sleep, dieting, or adding other forms of exercise may cause you to stop progressing without necessarily creating a true plateau Why coaches should investigate what has changed before immediately modifying a client’s training program The difference between managing a temporary lack of progress and actively trying to “bust” a plateau Why temporary stressors may only require reducing training volume, while long-term lifestyle changes may require rebuilding the program entirely Want to train like a Silver-Era bodybuilder? Join our Hypertrophy Past and Present Training group on TrainHeroic.com