Weight Questions

[trikydik]

I am doing a 3x7 @ 50% Single Rep Weight (weight at which you can only do 1 rep before failure) and then 3x7@75% SRW
This is an only slightly modified version of Jimmy Pena's workout in the latest copy of Muscle Mag.

In the article it says 3x5@50 / 3x5@65% / and to failure @ 75%

Question - would you gain more mass doing these backwards I am failing on the last set...which is good, but I could lift heavier if I did the heavier weight first....

[MODO]

I am doing a 3x7 @ 50% Single Rep Weight (weight at which you can only do 1 rep before failure) and then 3x7@75% SRW This is an only slightly modified version of Jimmy Pena's workout in the latest copy of Muscle Mag. In the article it says 3x5@50 / 3x5@65% / and to failure @ 75% Question - would you gain more mass doing these backwards I am failing on the last set...which is good, but I could lift heavier if I did the heavier weight first....

In my experience, doing it in the opposite order is better for strength. And you can do a 1 rep max as a second or third set once and awhile to push yourself. Also, heavier lifting I think would help with size. Too low of a weight and you are doing more glycogen burning than muscle fiber breaking.

[hellomycognomen]

Better to hit heavy first when you are the freshest. Or if you want to go up in weight generally the reps must go down.

[trikydik]

going heavy first, I added 10 pounds on average to my heavy lift. So for example.. I was doing Tricep Press.. 3x7@130 and 3x7@160 I changed the weight around and did 3x7@170 and 3x7@150

the thing that killed me was when I got to the bicep curl, I could barely move 60% my normal load.

[hellomycognomen]

going heavy first, I added 10 pounds on average to my heavy lift. So for example.. I was doing Tricep Press.. 3x7@130 and 3x7@160 I changed the weight around and did 3x7@170 and 3x7@150

the thing that killed me was when I got to the bicep curl, I could barely move 60% my normal load.

Thats interesting....maybe you exhausted the muscle/cns too much which might have affected the biceps? Just guessing.

I recently changed my program for a similar issue. I was doing incline bench to failure but that would hurt my next exercise flat bench. What I do now is back off maybe one to two reps short of failure, finish my complete routine, then I go back to chest and reach full failure with lower weight (as I am by this time fatigued already). Ive noticed a greater pump so I think the change will be beneficial.

This is a perfect example of how something that is "generally true" depends on each person and how their body reacts to it. Only through actual experience can the "generally true" be verified.

If going too heavy first is screwing up your gains you might need to modify.

-Cheers