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Ever since I started lifting, I recorded every set in comparison to last weeks set to make sure I was gaining in strength. However, this seems limiting in what type of set you do, what excercise you do, and it just takes you out of the moment.Acouple of times, I have been pressed for time, so I didnt bother to look at my PRs, and I got a much better workout. I had a much better muscle/mind connection, was always thinking about what excercise I wanted to do next, and generally, had a better time of it.So im thinking that, from now on, my first set is the only one I will bother to reccord.So for chest day, My first set would be to try to beat my bench PR. This is the only metric I would use to measure my chest progress for the month. (I might switch to incline or decline or dumbells for another month)The whole rest of the workout, I just go from set to set doing whatever I feel like as long as I am "in the moment" and focused on destroying my chest.The same for every other muscle group.Though I suppose if it was chest/bicep day, I would PR the bench press, PR the preacher curl, and then pound anything that works bis and chest for an hour.I spend too much time entering in data to my little smartphone. Takes me out of it. Need to lift and allow myself to be fluid and intense.What about you guys?Am I the last one to come to this realization?
I never bother with that shit. I am too busy banging weights, chalking up or pacing around like a lunatic from station to station to pull out a pen and paper.If you can't remember your workout, you are doing too much shit IMO. Besides, who cares if you PR on assistance work? It's called assistance work for a reason. I guarantee you if you hit a PR on squat, bench or dead you are getting stronger everywhere. "Heavy" assistance work should be kept for last anyways, so I'd argue that if your curls really suck after going bananas on a compound lift, that's even better.Surprise surprise, you felt awesome not doing that shit, so I say do away with the pad, the gizmos, the calculators and whatnot, they detract you from crushing weights and enjoying yourself in the process which is crucial. Keep track of what is important in your brain, then write it later or not.
I think you can get bogged down messing with tracking stuff…..however…you can't improve what you don't measure. I do most of my planning and writing in advance. With 5/3/1 I have all of my weights and exercises written down in advance so that when I finish a set I either circle my goal rep number or cross it out and write the actual rep number. I don't go as far as putting it into spreadsheets, but I can flip back over the past couple times to see if I'm improving. I would say my total documentation time for an entire workout is 30-60 seconds.I know people who write down every single exercise, seat placement, hand placement, etc....I think that's over the top.
Ever since I started lifting, I recorded every set in comparison to last weeks set to make sure I was gaining in strength. However, this seems limiting in what type of set you do, what excercise you do, and it just takes you out of the moment.Acouple of times, I have been pressed for time, so I didnt bother to look at my PRs, and I got a much better workout. I had a much better muscle/mind connection, was always thinking about what excercise I wanted to do next, and generally, had a better time of it.So im thinking that, from now on, my first set is the only one I will bother to reccord.So for chest day, My first set would be to try to beat my bench PR. This is the only metric I would use to measure my chest progress for the month. (I might switch to incline or decline or dumbells for another month)The whole rest of the workout, I just go from set to set doing whatever I feel like as long as I am "in the moment" and focused on destroying my chest.The same for every other muscle group.Though I suppose if it was chest/bicep day, I would PR the bench press, PR the preacher curl, and then pound anything that works bis and chest for an hour.I spend too much time entering in data to my little smartphone. Takes me out of it. Need to lift and allow myself to be fluid and intense.What about you guys?Am I the last one to come to this realization?
Let me get this straight... your first set of bench your going to go for your PR?? .... that's about ludacris. You should at least transition into it for muscle and nervous systems sake.... that would be like me doing 2 warm-up sets with 185/225 and going straight into a 405 1RM... that's not a good idea, unless the goal is to get injured. Maybe i read this in a different context than intended?I used to be one of those guys that logged everything but you are right... it takes you out of the mood and sidetracks too much.... when i quit doing that shit i became wayyyy more focus and hit even BIGGER numbers
No, you read that right.I try to make EVERY set a PR... at least in relation to where the set is in the workoutI dont really do warm up sets. I always felt like im always stronger the closer to raw I am. basically every set ends up being a deload set by default. At the start of my chest workout, I use 75 pound DBs; At the end of it, I have to use 35 or 40 poind DBs.Im sure this would be stupid at a higher level, but im a beginner.Im I injure myself at 25 when my 1rep max on the Barbell Bench is 175, then something is off. I dont think I need to worry about tearing some shit just yet.
I keep track of my PRs on any movement that I use for max effort work. I don't see the point in PRs on single joint exercises like curls because it isn't really and indicator of strength. It is satisfying enough for me that I now use 40s for my hammer curls instead of 35s.
I dont really do warm up sets.Im sure this would be stupid at a higher level, but im a beginner.Im I injure myself at 25 when my 1rep max on the Barbell Bench is 175, then something is off. I dont think I need to worry about tearing some shit just yet.
This is really semantics though.... I am to 405 as you are to 175. The thing we both have in common is that we are both giving 100% because it's our max lifts. Our muscles have developed to the extent that i can lift what i can... and you can lift what you can. This doesn't necessarily make you exempt from injury when trying to progresshell.... Do you remember kiefer saying he tore his pec on 135 warm-up set of decline bench? CASE and POINT. Warming up the muscle through the same range of motion that you will be exercising is really common sense.
hell.... Do you remember kiefer saying he tore his pec on 135 warm-up set of decline bench? CASE and POINT.
Exactly. he tore it on a warm up.Ergo post hoc procter rocker, If I dont do warm up sets, I wont get injured.Thats just Science, bitch.SCCCCCCCIENCE!
hell.... Do you remember kiefer saying he tore his pec on 135 warm-up set of decline bench? CASE and POINT.
Exactly. he tore it on a warm up.Ergo post hoc procter rocker, If I dont do warm up sets, I wont get injured.Thats just Science, bitch.SCCCCCCCIENCE!
Haha that was pretty damn funny.
hell.... Do you remember kiefer saying he tore his pec on 135 warm-up set of decline bench? CASE and POINT.
Exactly. he tore it on a warm up.Ergo post hoc procter rocker, If I dont do warm up sets, I wont get injured.Thats just Science, bitch.SCCCCCCCIENCE!
Every time I read this it cracks me up. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
Hitting a PR is so subjective. If your chest workout is flat bench, decline bench, then flies lets say. If you focus on hitting a PR on the first 2 exercises then you get gassed by the time you hit flies. RB
I attempt PRs every time I feel like a beast.Every night I eat like a monster, wake up the next day in beast more.It doesn't mean I always hit a PR. I would say you should hit a PR monthly if not biweekly.It depends on how long you've been lifting...
on and off for a couple of years, but just started getting serious about it.So basically, I hit PRs every time. 😛
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