Increasing the weight?

oneillk

Generally, by what percentage should you increase the weight you are lifting when you can comfortably complete all sets?

iregk

you should never comfortably complete all sets! If you can do than, then you didn't move up the weight soon enough. As soon as you feel your not pushing with the usual strain go for an extra little bit. I always go up by 5kg over all to push it that extra bit. If i have energy left after that I will go up again for a couple of reps. Next time in the gym I'll work from a little higher than usual to give my last rep at my previous max.

rubadub

oneillk wrote:

Generally, by what percentage should you increase the weight you are lifting when you can comfortably complete all sets?

I usually go for 5% but that results in a drop in reps. I usually stick with the same weight, starting at 8 reps and building to 12, then add 5% and am back to about 8 -10reps again.

Some perfer to add tiny amounts each workout and get to the same reps each time. I might start doing this. I was recommended to take 1min breaks between sets for hypertrophy, but my reps per set drops off due to me still being exhausted from the short 1 min break. Say I can do 10 reps, my next set is down to 7, next to 5. So if I stay at 12, my next might be 10,.then 8.

But to continue progressing I should add small weights per workout.

Shrimp

5% - 10%

mloc

it depends what level you are at. 5-10% of 220 lbs bench is a lot more than 5 - 10% of a 100 lb bench.

I work with a 6-12 rep target, depending on the weight and exercise. So if I reached 12 reps with an exercise, I would raise the weight until I was only able to perform 6 reps. That could mean an additional 45lbs or an additional 5 lbs, depending on the exercise.