Why I Swapped “Fun Workouts” for Focused Training—And Never Looked Back

I used to think trainers who programmed four-week training blocks with the same exercises, were just… boring and uncreative.

They’d hand their clients the same workouts week after week, and I’d think, “Really? That’s it? Where’s the variety?” My AHDH brain told me I could NEVER work out like that!

At that point in my life, I worked out all the time. I did a little barre, some strength/ bootcamp style classes, some cardio classes, some swimming, hiking, ice skating—you name it. I was active, consistent, and having fun. But- my body never really changed.

I wasn’t getting stronger or noticeably fitter.

My workouts were random, and so were my results. I felt “healthy enough,” but I wasn’t progressing because I wasn’t giving my body any reason to adapt. That’s the part I didn’t understand yet—progressive overload is what drives change.

The “Boring” Program That Changed Everything

When I finally decided I was ready to see what I was truly capable of, I hired a trainer and committed to her four-week block program. It looked repetitive, but I trusted the process.

And within a few months, I was actually surprised. I could lift more. My posture improved. My body started looking different. I saw actual muscle on my back! For the first time ever, I felt physically strong!

Then I added in macro splits that supported the strength I was building. I focused on getting optimal amount of protien which as a vegetarain who hardly ate vegetables was NOT an easy task! But my results after about 6 months told me I was heading in exactly the right direction. I felt energized, leaner, and more powerful than ever. I was sold on progressive overload training!

The Over-doing it Lesson

I loved training so much that I didn’t want to take a single day off. I was lifting five, sometimes six days a week because I genuinely enjoyed it and didn’t want to lose momentum. I also added in variety on top of my strength training, just for fun (Barre, Water Classes, Pilates, Hiking, Skating & Swimming)

And then… injury hit.

That was my hard-earned wake-up call. I realized that progress doesn’t come from doing more—it comes from recovering better.

I was forced to scale back. I started building in mobility work, yoga, balance training, and intentional rest days. Once I did, my strength results didn’t stall—they multiplied. I felt stronger, more coordinated, and genuinely healthy from the inside out.

I started feeling like I was finally in charge of my body, instead of my body being in charge of what I could or couldn’t do.

What I Bring to My Clients Now

As my own training evolved, I quickly noticed a pattern with the women I was working with: none of them wanted to become bodybuilders.

They wanted to feel capable, confident, and healthy. They wanted to stay strong enough to hike, travel, play with their kids/grandkids/friends, and move through life without pain or restriction.

That’s how my current programming was born—for women who want to get strong and live life to its fullest, while making healthy, sustainable changes to their body composition.

Progressive overload doesn’t have to mean extreme lifting or daily gym sessions. It means showing up with purpose, challenging yourself a little more each week, and honoring your body with recovery and movement that builds longevity—not just aesthetics.

What Progressive Overload Really Means

For those of you new to the scene - progressive overload isn’t about pushing harder every single workout—it’s about creating small, intentional increases that force your body to adapt and grow stronger.

Here are a few ways to do that:

1. Increase the Load: Gradually lift more weight while maintaining good form. Even small jumps count.

2. Add Reps or Sets: Doing just one or two more reps (or an extra set) challenges your muscles in a new way.

3. Slow the Tempo: Slowing down the lowering phase (eccentric) of a movement increases time under tension—great for muscle growth.

4. Improve Form or Range: Moving with better control or through a fuller range of motion is progress, too.

5. Reduce Rest Time: Shortening rest between sets can increase endurance and challenge your body differently.

The important part is consistency—not random intensity. Those subtle, steady increases over weeks are what drive real, visible results.

Feeling Stronger in Everything:

When you train with progressive overload, you’re teaching your body (and mind) that it’s capable of more.

When you feel stronger in your workouts, you feel stronger in everything you do—on the trail, in the pool, at work, or just moving through your day.

That’s what strength training is really about: building a body that lets you live fully & freely.

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Training with Tamara | Solara Studio offers women’s personal training, small group programs, assisted stretch therapy, and aquatic therapy in Ashland, Oregon. Learn more about Small Group Training Classes & Personal Training.