Andy Bolton, who holds the world record deadlift at 1009 lbs (pic from www.andrew-bolton.com)
In Dr. Lon Kilgore's CrossFit Journal article (January 2010) he talks about how intense CrossFit workouts cause adaptive changes at the cellular level. In the article he states that there are three stages of adaptation: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. The alarm stage is where a completely new stress or a new level of previoiusly experienced stress is put on the body. This starts the cycle of adaptation. Think trying a new WOD or an improved time in a WOD you've already done. During resistance your body starts working toward enhancing its ability to withstand another exposure to the damaging stress. This is where your gains are made:
"It should be understood that if exercise is to drive adaptation (fitness gain), the work done in training must continually progress in load. No increased load leads to no improvement in fitness."
So what is this telling us? Give it your all every workout. Go faster, go heavier, and gain. You'll hear us say "better than yesterday". This is why.
