Anyone Surprised at 1RM Results?

[petramom]

According to the 1RM tests I've done so far, I haven't been lifting heavy enough weights. I feel like I've really pushed myself as far as weight training these last 6 months - kept logs, increased poundage (the dumbbells, not me) and usually really pushed myself.

But now it looks like on a lot of exercises I wasn't even at 50% of my 1RM when I thought I was lifting heavy. I can't imagine that I was so far off on my capacity - am I that big of a wimp? I honestly felt like I was working super-hard.

Does anyone relate? Or have any insight?

 

[Denise R]

Yep! I started doing my 1RM and was surprised at how off I was. I have been babying myself way too long! I am hoping that STS helps eliminate that and brings the focus back.......

Denise

 

[teddy16410]

Yep! I started doing my 1RM and was surprised at how off I was. I have been babying myself way too long! I am hoping that STS helps eliminate that and brings the focus back.......

Denise

Same here....I was lifting what I thought was my heaviest but during testing I found I was a good 5-8 #s off! Thats quite a bit.... I wasnt a happy camper about doing all those exercises & I still wont do them all by any means - but just doing the 35 or 40 upper that I have has shown me the light!

 

[LaughingWater]

I wasn't super far off, but yeah...some exercises bumped me up a couple of pounds more than I would have grabbed on my own. I was actually happy to see that ~ I'm stronger than I thought!

 

[NancyAZ]

Don't forget, though, that the weight you choose to try to complete 8-10 reps one time is certainly going to be more than when you know you have several sets to do in a workout, along with multiple sets of varying exercises using the same muscle group.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I doubt that we have been babying ourselves or have necessarily been as conservative as it would appear on the surface. When you've finished a Pyramids workout and can't lift an arm or leg you know you've chosen your weight just fine.

Edited to correctly read: "...one time is certainly going to be MORE than when you know..."

 

[christosz]

Don't forget, though, that the weight you choose to try to complete 8-10 reps one time is certainly going to be less than when you know you have several sets to do in a workout, along with multiple sets of varying exercises using the same muscle group.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I doubt that we have been babying ourselves or have necessarily been as conservative as it would appear on the surface. When you've finished a Pyramids workout and can't lift an arm or leg you know you've chosen your weight just fine.

Couldn't agree more! Also consider the rep speed Cathe uses in her weight w/os, e.g. Gym Style, Muscle Max etc. Way faster than the rep speed in STS.
I tried applying the 1RM results in some Cathe w/os (mostly at 60%) and just couldn't.

Chris.

 

[petramom]

I tried applying the 1RM results in some Cathe w/os (mostly at 60%) and just couldn't.

Chris.
[/QUOTE]

I was wondering about that - my 1RM says I should be lifting something like 10# heavier for bicep curls than I have been. And I seriously struggle with what I use now. I also wondered about that chart on the 1RM that says "If you're doing this many reps, use this weight ..." Do they mean that many reps total, or per set? I'm assuming since it only goes up to 20 reps, it must mean per set. And there is NO WAY I can lift that kind of weight for that many reps for more than one set.