Increasing Weights

[Slayer of Souls]

My training style has always been progressive overload, i.e., trying to gradually increase weight or reps on every training day. Point is, I dont think it is possible, gear or no gear to train like this. Pushing the body everyday that hard can only lead to injury.

Do most of you train like that

How do you target weights and reps, how do you progress

[Little76]

I lift 3 times a week, though Im not a bodybuilder.
Monday squat + assistance
Wendesday is bench + assistance
Friday deadlift + assistance

Ill normally add things like dips/ wide grip pull ups/ rows to most of my workouts to help bring up my bench as its the lift that is really lagging.
I normally do 12 week programs. Starting with about 70% with high volume and ending up at 95% for 3x3, then the following week I hopefully hit a new PB.
This method hasnt failed me yet, but that said, Im not moving big weights.
The reason I like this method though is the fact you drop down to 70% to give your joints a nice break after the high intensity from the previous weeks. I also know what weights I need to move and for how many sets/reps. I find having a structured program/system like this helps a lot in regards to progress.

Im no expert, but its how I train

[unusual]

Hello,

i exercice 3 times a week as well. Maximally 4 times a week, hoping all the time in days off for muscle regeneration I am doing only biceps and chests and back with triceps. I am not a profesional. My exercise takes around 40 minutes and I feel great. I hoped that i will lose my weight, but is all the time same, maybe higher, but body looks OK for me.

[sparkant]

i agree to some extent -strength is not infinite - however i do believe that progression of sorts can continue for a long long time for example if i do 3 x flat bench and i do 140kg for 10 reps for all 3 sets with 2minutes rest ( i know it sounds sad but i time all rest periods and record all lifts) if i am stuck on this weight i will shoot for same reps but shorten my rest period by 15 seconds - if i reach my 3 x sets of 10 with reduced rest then i have progressed yes ! i will then reduce my rest al the way down to 60 seconds and from experience when i can do x amount of weight for 3 sets with only 60 seconds rest i can certainly add mor weight and start again with 2-3 mins rest ,another way is rep manipulation - wen you choose to do a 6 rep workout but you only know what weight you can do 10 reps for , you often waste sets trying to "feel " your correct poundage - if this was me and i was stuck at 10 reps with x weight i will put this into any 1 rp max calculator and find out my max for that excercise and then add 5% - i will then reverse the equation using poliquns rep max percentages to find out exactly what % of my 1 rep max i should use to get 6 reps (but remember i added 5 % to 1 rep max)so if i get my 6 reps i have progressed and then next week i will d the same to get a 12 rep workout and then maybe an 8rep - there are a million ways to progress in training you just need to record EVERYTHING in order to manipulate things but you are right you cant add weight every workout forever

[Little76]

Wow that's sounds comlicated
Just try to add more weight, reps or sets, and as above you can even shorten your rest periods.
There are many ways to progress.

[sparkant]

Wow that's sounds comlicated
Just try to add more weight, reps or sets, and as above you can even shorten your rest periods.
There are many ways to progress.

i agree it can be complicated but after many years of training progression can be so miniscule and come in many forms that we must find as many ways as possible to keep things moving - stagnant progress is unbearable as im sure you would agree - i myself am really struggling with biceps at the moment but thats another story !

[songdog]

I run the 5x5 routine.I been doing it for almost a year.At the end of 8 weeks.I take a couple days off.Then I look at my top weight and subtract 30%.I start there.I am 52 years old.At 1st this kick my ass.But I kept at it.I will never break any records.But I love watching the look on some of the faces of the younger guys who think they a strong.

[Times Roman]

I used to train like that when I was younger. Now I get plagued by injuries, so I take a more moderate approach

(getting old sucks!)