![<description><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">This week I&#8217;m breaking down one of the most common training mistakes I see when athletes transition from a growth phase into prep — failing to shift the mindset around progressive overload. The goal of your training changes the day prep starts, and if your program and your expectations don&#8217;t change with it, you&#8217;re going to spend the entire prep fighting yourself. I&#8217;ll walk through what that shift actually looks like mechanically, how to manage load as the deficit deepens, and why letting go of the PR mindset isn&#8217;t a step backward — it&#8217;s the whole point.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Then I&#8217;m getting into something I&#8217;ve wanted to address for a while — cookie-cutter coaching and why it&#8217;s one of the industry&#8217;s most accepted and least talked about problems. High client volume, templated programs, and championing the small percentage who succeed while quietly ignoring everyone else isn&#8217;t coaching — it&#8217;s a numbers game. I&#8217;ll cover what real individualized coaching actually requires, what the red flags look like from the athlete&#8217;s side, and what you should expect from anyone you&#8217;re paying to guide your prep.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-11537" src="https://fivestarrphysique.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/291.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="600" /></p>
<div>Call in and leave a voicemail with your question! 865-226-9284</div>
<div></div>
<div>Bikini Blueprint is available now at pre-launch pricing &#8211; get in while it&#8217;s hot! https://fivestarrphysique.com/bikini-blueprint/</div>
<div></div>
<div>Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!):</div>
<div>http://fivestarrphysique.com/</div>
<div></div>
<div>Check out my online course collection, available now! https://fivestarrphysique.com/courses/</div>
<div></div>
<div>Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what’s coming up next: https://www.youtube.com/@darin_starr</div>
<div></div>
<div>Check me out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedropsetpodcast</div></description>](https://us-central1-podcastguru-217d6.cloudfunctions.net/gcf_get_image?image_url=https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts211/v4/ef/7e/6f/ef7e6fd4-0ec9-027b-5b02-a45670b51606/mza_6034853371587853755.jpeg/600x600bb.jpg&width=300&height=300&api_key=xqFmUFX5BHLBTA)
The Drop Set with Darin Starr: Bodybuilding for the Masses
Five Starr Physique
291 – Prep Training vs. Growth Training + Is Your Coach Actually Coaching You?
MAY 6, 202657 MIN
291 – Prep Training vs. Growth Training + Is Your Coach Actually Coaching You?
MAY 6, 202657 MIN
Description
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">This week I’m breaking down one of the most common training mistakes I see when athletes transition from a growth phase into prep — failing to shift the mindset around progressive overload. The goal of your training changes the day prep starts, and if your program and your expectations don’t change with it, you’re going to spend the entire prep fighting yourself. I’ll walk through what that shift actually looks like mechanically, how to manage load as the deficit deepens, and why letting go of the PR mindset isn’t a step backward — it’s the whole point.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Then I’m getting into something I’ve wanted to address for a while — cookie-cutter coaching and why it’s one of the industry’s most accepted and least talked about problems. High client volume, templated programs, and championing the small percentage who succeed while quietly ignoring everyone else isn’t coaching — it’s a numbers game. I’ll cover what real individualized coaching actually requires, what the red flags look like from the athlete’s side, and what you should expect from anyone you’re paying to guide your prep.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-11537" src="https://fivestarrphysique.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/291.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="600" /></p>
<div>Call in and leave a voicemail with your question! 865-226-9284</div>
<div></div>
<div>Bikini Blueprint is available now at pre-launch pricing – get in while it’s hot! https://fivestarrphysique.com/bikini-blueprint/</div>
<div></div>
<div>Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!):</div>
<div>http://fivestarrphysique.com/</div>
<div></div>
<div>Check out my online course collection, available now! https://fivestarrphysique.com/courses/</div>
<div></div>
<div>Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what’s coming up next: https://www.youtube.com/@darin_starr</div>
<div></div>
<div>Check me out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedropsetpodcast</div>