Weights between sets

[swatleader]

hey, i was wondering if it is important to change the weights between sets,

meaning if your goal was 3 x 10

and you do 3 x 20

should you increase the weight? for the next set.

or it this just a thing, that works better for some people and not so good for others?

because i dislike changing the weights between sets

thanks

[armorforsleep]

i think you answered

your own question

if your goal is 3x10

and you are doing 3x20

to reach your goal of 3x10 you probably have to increase the weight

[swatleader]

well i don't exactly mean that.. let me say agagin

3 x 10

and you get like 12reps but with the same weights you go to 8 reps on the second set and on the last set you get like 6, between each one should you drop it a bit so you can get closer to the rep amount or should i just keep doing that

this is not a real example, just off my head because i'm only just about to get back to lifting etc

[Cort]

It really depends entirely on your goals. If you are going in looking to rep out one or two sets at a really heavy weight, then you do what you have to to accomplish that. If you want to get 3-5 sets, chances are you aren't going to want to throw 205 (random number) on the bar if you can only manage that for one or two sets. Since your goal was 3-5 sets, it would have been better to throw on 195 or 200 and work with that since it is more likely that you would be able to pull off multiple sets at those weights. That's just a random example.

It also isn't a good idea to not change the weights just because you think its too much of a hassle

[Clark Kent]

I don't think you should ever decrease the weight between sets! Muscles build when you lift heavy weights. Of course you won't be able to do as many reps the second and third set, that's just simple logic. Decreasing the weight to get more reps is only going to decrease the amount of muscle you could potentially build. Sounds like a dumb idea to me.

[swatleader]

cort, i'm sorry but what you said just confused me

and to clark:.. i mean for exaple first set i do 10, next i do 2.. should i decrease a bit of weight for the third set since if i don't, i'll do like one.

[SinTek]

Many people work in rep ranges i.e. 4-6. It may go something like this..
1st set 200 pounds 6 reps
2nd set 200 pounds 5 reps
3rd set 200 pounds 4 reps

Now if they were working the rep range 4-6 and they got 6 reps on all three sets they would increase the weight next workout.

[maverick]

Originally Posted by SinTek

Many people work in rep ranges i.e. 4-6. It may go something like this..
1st set 200 pounds 6 reps
2nd set 200 pounds 5 reps
3rd set 200 pounds 4 reps

Now if they were working the rep range 4-6 and they got 6 reps on all three sets they would increase the weight next workout.

Precisely what I do

[Hell_Yes]

i don't think he even knows what he is asking.

keep the weight the same, even if you can't lift it 10 times. eventually you will be strong enought to lift it 10 times.

[Firehawk]

Look dude. let me just tell you what to do because you aren't going to go anywhere doing what you're doing. Try this.

Put weight on that you know you can get for 6 reps but not 7.

Do a set of 6.

Rest until you feel fully recovered, or as recovered as you gonna get. (Try 5 minutes just to see what happens).

Do another set of 6. You shoudl be able to get 6 again but be struggling with that 6th rep.

Wait another 5 minutes, and then do another set of 6 with the same weight. When you can get 3 sets of 6 like this, add 5 lbs to the bar the following week and repeat.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by swatleader

cort, i'm sorry but what you said just confused me

and to clark:.. i mean for exaple first set i do 10, next i do 2.. should i decrease a bit of weight for the third set since if i don't, i'll do like one.

If you can do 10 reps with a weight the first set, and then only 2 reps the next set with the same weight, either you're doing the lift wrong or there is seriously something wrong with your body.

It is natural to decrease 1 to 2 reps each successive set, depending on how much time you rest and how hard you push yourself. Anymore than that and it's a sign of something not good.

[Cort]

and to clark:.. i mean for exaple first set i do 10, next i do 2.. should i decrease a bit of weight for the third set since if i don't, i'll do like one.

In this situation, just move on to another muscle group, you've already pushed your muscle to failure on the first set, and the amount you would have to drop the weight to complete the last few sets would make continuing somewhat pointless. That wouldn't happen with 10 reps though, you'd have to be working down around 4-6.

Its happened to me too, I decided to attempt starting out with 205 during a workout almost a year ago, and I got the first set of 6, but after waiting a few extra minutes to recover, I couldn't even rep 205 for 2, and I wound up dropping to 185 and barely being able to do that for 2 sets of 3. Basically my whole workout was f'ed up because I started too heavy I wound up doing 4 sets (3 of which were totally gimped,) and was then unable to complete the 4-5 sets I had left on different chest/shoulder/tricep related exercises.

[swatleader]

ooh thanks a lot cort, that answers everything

oh and one more quick question hopefully, if i get too exhaused on the first exercise, and don't have the energy to do the next exercise, does that mean i'm pushing and lifting too much on the first exercise?

[Cort]

Originally Posted by swatleader

ooh thanks a lot cort, that answers everything

oh and one more quick question hopefully, if i get too exhaused on the first exercise, and don't have the energy to do the next exercise, does that mean i'm pushing and lifting too much on the first exercise?

Same thing, if you go to failure early on in your workout (without intending to,) then your volume is WAY too high.

[swatleader]

ok thanks a lot cort