Thread: So how do i know when to increase the weight?

what rep range do you work in?
rule of thumb:
if u go by a 10 rep set:
if you can do more then 10 reps with a weight...you add enough weight to where u are having a hard time making that 10th rep in great form.
If u cannot get at least 8 reps out...u need to decrease the weight to be able to at least do 8..try for ten.
make any sense?

ok so max weight i can do between 8 to 10. and if i can do more than 10, add some more?

Originally Posted by Hurri

ok so max weight i can do between 8 to 10. and if i can do more than 10, add some more?

yeah.

General guideline is don't go up by more than 5% in any given week - so if you're benching say 185 then you would try to go up by 5-10 pounds for your increases. On machines just move up to the next plate.

Originally Posted by ponyboy

General guideline is don't go up by more than 5% in any given week - so if you're benching say 185 then you would try to go up by 5-10 pounds for your increases. On machines just move up to the next plate.

if your using 80-90% of your max each session i'd agree, up the weight pound by pound or plate by plate, personally i add/drop weights every week, i never hit any body part with the same routine consecutively

i used to value a productive workout on how much weight i pushed, but now i do stuff like try and get more reps/sets out, try and get through the workout faster (cutting rest periods etc) and use of advanced training principles (all the weider stuff), it ain't always about using bigger weights each week

Originally Posted by Hurri

ok i'm new to all of this and this may be a silly question BUT how do i know when it's time to add more weights?

exactly, so why are you asking us? you have a much better idea than what any of us do, we are not a bunch of psycics man i can't tell you whether a weight is too heavy or too light for you because i can't see you lifting it, i'd say as soon as you feel you can add weight add it - but it all depends on what your training for

peace

strive to achieve something greater with every workout. if you arent quite ready to raise the weight, at least try to squeeze out more reps than your previous workout.