---
title: The Need for Variation in Exercise
description: The Need for Variation in Exercise
---

[![SlowBurn](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/hubfs/SlowBurn_Personal_Training_July2017/Images/logo.png "SlowBurn")](http://seriousstrength.com/index.php)

- [Default HubSpot Blog](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog)

# The Need for Variation in Exercise

 May 05, 2010

When was the last time you needed a different air mixture in order to breathe properly? The air is the air.

When was the last time you needed to vary your macronutrients in order to eat healthfully? The protein you need is the protein you need.

If the stimulus to a muscle is sufficient, it is sufficient. And if the stimulus is severe enough to cause adaptation, it stimulates adaptation.

As an example, if you are shot with a bullet, it will pierce your skin and impale you - every time. You will never adapt and become resistant to the bullet. The stimulus to too severe to become resistant to it.

Many fitness experts would have you believe that after a time, an exercise that has stimulated a positive tissue adaptation will no longer stimulate any further benefit because the body has become used to the same stimulus and resists change. They then claim that in order to make continued gains in that muscle or muscle group, a different exercise is required that the body in not used to.

This is nonsense.

If the stimulation to a given muscle is severe enough to recruit and fatigue the fibers deeply enough to cause a positive adaption, it will always cause such adaptation until you reach the limit of your genetic potential.

And yes, genetic potential is an unknown.

If you are working a muscle or group of muscles intensely enough and increasing the resistance even by a fraction at each session, assuming the exercise is a bio-mechanically correct exercise, you're on the right track. Keep it up.

I am NOT saying you shouldn't do different exercises. I am NOT saying you can't alter the order of your routine to spice it up and keep it interesting. Variety is the spice of life and training.

But the notion that your body gets used to an exercise and refuses to adapt because you have been doing it for too long is poppy-cock of the highest order.

I'm off to the Club Industry fitness show at the Jacob Javitz Center in NYC now. I will undoubtedly be bombarded with huge amounts of fitness fantasies. Fun!

[![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com%2Fblog%2Fthe-need-for-variation-in-exercise%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/linkedin-24x24.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com%2Fblog%2Fthe-need-for-variation-in-exercise%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com%2Fblog%2Fthe-need-for-variation-in-exercise%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com%2Fblog%2Fthe-need-for-variation-in-exercise%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=The%20Need%20for%20Variation%20in%20Exercise) [![Share on Pinterest](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/pinterest-24x24.png)](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com%2Fblog%2Fthe-need-for-variation-in-exercise%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dpinterest&media=) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fblog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com%2Fblog%2Fthe-need-for-variation-in-exercise%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fblog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com%2Fblog%2Fthe-need-for-variation-in-exercise%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail)

Search this site on Google

Search

### Archives

- [February 2020 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2020/02)
- [March 2018 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2018/03)
- [June 2017 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2017/06)
- [March 2017 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2017/03)
- [September 2016 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2016/09)
- [August 2014 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2014/08)
- [June 2014 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2014/06)
- [May 2014 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2014/05)
- [April 2014 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2014/04)
- [March 2014 (2)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2014/03)
- [January 2014 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2014/01)
- [December 2013 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2013/12)
- [October 2013 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2013/10)
- [August 2013 (2)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2013/08)
- [June 2013 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2013/06)
- [May 2013 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2013/05)
- [April 2013 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2013/04)
- [March 2013 (2)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2013/03)
- [February 2013 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2013/02)
- [January 2013 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2013/01)
- [December 2012 (2)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2012/12)
- [November 2012 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2012/11)
- [October 2012 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2012/10)
- [September 2012 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2012/09)
- [August 2012 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2012/08)
- [July 2012 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2012/07)
- [June 2012 (4)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2012/06)
- [May 2012 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2012/05)
- [April 2012 (2)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2012/04)
- [March 2012 (5)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2012/03)
- [February 2012 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2012/02)
- [January 2012 (2)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2012/01)
- [December 2011 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2011/12)
- [November 2011 (6)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2011/11)
- [October 2011 (7)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2011/10)
- [September 2011 (6)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2011/09)
- [August 2011 (6)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2011/08)
- [July 2011 (4)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2011/07)
- [June 2011 (5)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2011/06)
- [May 2011 (7)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2011/05)
- [April 2011 (9)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2011/04)
- [March 2011 (13)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2011/03)
- [February 2011 (9)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2011/02)
- [January 2011 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2011/01)
- [December 2010 (4)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2010/12)
- [November 2010 (5)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2010/11)
- [October 2010 (4)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2010/10)
- [September 2010 (17)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2010/09)
- [August 2010 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2010/08)
- [July 2010 (5)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2010/07)
- [June 2010 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2010/06)
- [May 2010 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2010/05)
- [April 2010 (4)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2010/04)
- [March 2010 (2)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2010/03)
- [February 2010 (2)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2010/02)
- [January 2010 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2010/01)
- [November 2009 (2)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2009/11)
- [October 2009 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2009/10)
- [September 2009 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2009/09)
- [August 2009 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2009/08)
- [July 2009 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2009/07)
- [June 2009 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2009/06)
- [May 2009 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2009/05)
- [April 2009 (5)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2009/04)
- [March 2009 (5)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2009/03)
- [February 2009 (7)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2009/02)
- [January 2009 (10)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2009/01)
- [December 2008 (8)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2008/12)
- [November 2008 (7)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2008/11)
- [October 2008 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2008/10)
- [September 2008 (4)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2008/09)
- [August 2008 (5)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2008/08)
- [July 2008 (4)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2008/07)
- [June 2008 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2008/06)
- [May 2008 (6)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2008/05)
- [April 2008 (8)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2008/04)
- [March 2008 (7)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2008/03)
- [February 2008 (4)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2008/02)
- [January 2008 (5)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2008/01)
- [December 2007 (4)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2007/12)
- [November 2007 (5)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2007/11)
- [October 2007 (5)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2007/10)
- [September 2007 (3)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2007/09)
- [August 2007 (7)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2007/08)
- [July 2007 (4)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2007/07)
- [June 2007 (5)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2007/06)
- [May 2007 (12)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2007/05)
- [April 2007 (9)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2007/04)
- [March 2007 (6)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2007/03)
- [February 2007 (4)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2007/02)
- [January 2007 (10)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2007/01)
- [December 2006 (2)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2006/12)
- [November 2006 (2)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2006/11)
- [October 2006 (4)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2006/10)
- [September 2006 (4)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2006/09)
- [August 2006 (2)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2006/08)
- [July 2006 (5)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2006/07)
- [June 2006 (6)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2006/06)
- [May 2006 (6)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2006/05)
- [April 2006 (4)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2006/04)
- [March 2006 (9)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2006/03)
- [February 2006 (7)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2006/02)
- [January 2006 (8)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2006/01)
- [December 2005 (5)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2005/12)
- [November 2005 (1)](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog/archive/2005/11)

### Sitemap

- [About Us](http://seriousstrength.com/about-serious-strength-ny.php)
- [SlowBurn Method](http://seriousstrength.com/slow-burn-method-serious-strength-ny.php)
- [Training](http://seriousstrength.com/personal-training-serious-strength-ny.php)
- [FAQ](http://seriousstrength.com/faq-serious-strength-ny.php)
- [Purchase](http://seriousstrength.com/purchases-serious-strength-ny.php)
- [New Client](http://seriousstrength.com/pdf/health-history.pdf)
- [Health History](http://seriousstrength.com/pdf/health-history.pdf)
- [Personal Goals & Preferences](http://seriousstrength.com/pdf/personal-goals-and-preferences.pdf)
- [Policies & Procedures](http://seriousstrength.com/pdf/policies-and-procedures.pdf)
- [Testimonials](http://seriousstrength.com/pdf/health-history.pdf)
- [Blog](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/blog)
- [Contact Us](http://seriousstrength.com/contact.php)
- [Sitemap](http://seriousstrength.com/sitemap.php)

### Contact Information

**NYC Location**   
 169 West 78th Street - Lower Level  
 New York, NY 10024  
[**212.579.9320**](tel:+12125799320)  
[i](mailto:info@seriousstrength.com)nfo@slowburnfitness.com

**Montclair, NJ Location**  
 25 Watchung Plaza  
 Montclair, NJ 07042   
[**973.233.1013**](tel:+19732331013)  
[infomontclair@s](mailto:infomontclair@seriousstrength.com)lowburnfitness.com

 

### Connect With Us

[![Facebook](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/hubfs/SlowBurn_Personal_Training_July2017/Images/facebook.png)](https://www.facebook.com/SlowBurnFitness) [![Twitter](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/hubfs/SlowBurn_Personal_Training_July2017/Images/twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/SeriousStrength) [![Linked In](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/hubfs/SlowBurn_Personal_Training_July2017/Images/linkedin.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredrickhahn) [![Yelp](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/hubfs/SlowBurn_Personal_Training_July2017/Images/yelp-logo.png)](http://www.yelp.com/biz/serious-strength-personal-training-new-york-2) [![](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/hubfs/SlowBurn_Personal_Training_July2017/Images/instagram.png)](https://www.instagram.com/slowburnpersonaltraining/)

### As Seen On

![NBC](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/hubfs/SlowBurn_Personal_Training_July2017/Images/nbc.png) ![ABC](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/hubfs/SlowBurn_Personal_Training_July2017/Images/abc.png) ![CBS](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/hubfs/SlowBurn_Personal_Training_July2017/Images/cbs-logo.png)  
![700 Club](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/hubfs/SlowBurn_Personal_Training_July2017/Images/700clublogo.png) ![CNN](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/hubfs/SlowBurn_Personal_Training_July2017/Images/cnn.png) ![Fox News](https://blog.slowburnpersonaltraining.com/hubfs/SlowBurn_Personal_Training_July2017/Images/fox-news.png)

[© 2017 Copyright & Powered By Greater Town Media](http://greatertownmedia.com/)