drtbear1967
Musclechemistry Board Certified Member
If today's session is an upper-body workout featuring incline dumbbell presses, pulldowns, triceps extensions, and hammer curls, presumably you did that same workout about a week ago. That means you've got some benchmark numbers to base today's training targets on. If you incline-pressed 70-pound dumbbells for 5x10 last time, you could try to build upon that recent performance in a few different ways in today's workout:
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• Attempt to increase the weight 5 pounds and incline press the 75's for the same sets and reps. Or try the 75's for 5 sets of 8-9 (increase intensity). This would be appropriate when strength is your goal.
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• Attempt to lift the same weight for more sets and/or reps (increase volume). This is a good approach when hypertrophy is your goal.
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• Attempt the same weight, sets and reps, but in less total time (increase density). This is a good strategy when muscle development or body composition is your main goal.
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• Attempt to do the same weight, sets, and reps, but with cleaner technique (better quality). This is appropriate for novices or lifters struggling with orthopedic issues.
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The direction you take might be based on whatever you think has the best likelihood of success for that day. For example, your training goal might suggest trying to add weight, but you suspect that you have a much better chance of getting more reps with the same weight. If that's the case, take that option. Applying progressive overload requires knowledge of your best or recent best performances on key movements. These records are the targets you attempt to smash each time you repeat these exercises. Your training log is where you find these numbers, so make sure you're keeping one.
-
• Attempt to increase the weight 5 pounds and incline press the 75's for the same sets and reps. Or try the 75's for 5 sets of 8-9 (increase intensity). This would be appropriate when strength is your goal.
-
• Attempt to lift the same weight for more sets and/or reps (increase volume). This is a good approach when hypertrophy is your goal.
-
• Attempt the same weight, sets and reps, but in less total time (increase density). This is a good strategy when muscle development or body composition is your main goal.
-
• Attempt to do the same weight, sets, and reps, but with cleaner technique (better quality). This is appropriate for novices or lifters struggling with orthopedic issues.
-
The direction you take might be based on whatever you think has the best likelihood of success for that day. For example, your training goal might suggest trying to add weight, but you suspect that you have a much better chance of getting more reps with the same weight. If that's the case, take that option. Applying progressive overload requires knowledge of your best or recent best performances on key movements. These records are the targets you attempt to smash each time you repeat these exercises. Your training log is where you find these numbers, so make sure you're keeping one.
