# 067 Why you’re not progressing (and why it might not be a plateau)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/hypertrophy-past-and-present-7348739/067-why-you-re-not-progressing-and-why-it-might-not-be-a-plateau
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/hypertrophy-past-and-present-7348739/067-why-you-re-not-progressing-and-why-it-might-not-be-a-plateau.md
Podcast: [Hypertrophy Past and Present](https://stenobird.com/podcast/hypertrophy-past-and-present-7348739)
Published: 2026-08-31T10:59:42+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/38b3b832
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/38b3b832/7c89051a.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/hypertrophy-past-and-present-7348739/episodes/067-why-you-re-not-progressing-and-why-it-might-not-be-a-plateau
Duration seconds: 4424

## Resource

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

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