Progressing The Weight, Losing Reps (Slow Progress)

[ApoCz]

Guys, I was just wondering if when you decide to up the weight on any of your exercises if it's usual to lose a number of reps when you attempt your set. This always happens to me on upper body. I seem to get stuck on that new weight and just struggle to add more than 2 reps each time that exercise comes around. Some examples for me (keeping in mind I'm weak as piss).

Dumbbell Curls - LT - 20lbs - RP - 8,6,3 TT - 25lbs- RP - 5,3,2

Reverse Grip Bench - LT - 75lbs - RP - 5,3,3 TT - 75lbs - RP - 6,4,4


Those numbers should give you a pretty good idea on what I'm typing about. Has anybody got any suggestions to help speed my progress or had any other experiences personally that might be applying to me too? Thanks

[In-Human]

ApoCz, Why do you need to speed progress, you are making progress right?, then just keep chipping at every rotation...

[ApoCz]

Thats true, I just see guys post up huge weight and rep jumps and it makes me wonder. Your right though I'm probably being to hasty. Chip Chip Chip I go......

[In-Human]

ApoCz, everyone has a different load limitations, the weight means nothing, its all form, doing the exercises correctly and beating that damn log book, thats all you need to worrry about, it really doesn't matter what someone else lifts, like you said, chip, chip, chip away at it...

[USMuscle9403]

You're doing fine. If you're eating enough, resting enough and supplementing correctly...there is nothing else you can do to progress faster short of chemical assistance.

[GetnBigr]

most of the guys here have also been training for many years (10+), so don't compare their numbers with yours.

When you raise the weight and lose reps, you should keep the weight the same until you get the reps, and when you get the reps with that weight, go up some more. That is how this is suppose to work. You're doing good, just keep plugging a way at it and the strength will come!!!

[bigp3]

I just shoot for another rep or 5 more lbs each time,,, simple as that

[sammysdad]

Apocz,
You are making great strides actually.
To go from Dumbbell Curls - LT - 20lbs - RP - 8,6,3 TT - 25lbs- RP - 5,3,2 is actually a big jump if you think about it in percentages. You just increased your workweight 25% with a small decreace in reps. This is the equivalent of Inhuman jumping from 100 lb dumbells to 125 lb dumbells and only losing a couple of reps. (which I bet would give him an orgasm) When you see someone like Inhuman make a 20 lb jump and add a couple of reps it's damn inspiring to say the least. But he's adding 20 lbs to 500 in some cases and this is actually only a 4% increase. That's like you adding less than 1/2 lb to each dumbell and increasing your reps. Which, by the way, I bet you could've done.

As far as the reverse grip bench goes even if you "only" add a rep or 2 here and there it is going to add up over time. Like everyone says .....just keep chipping...........chip,chip,chipping.......

[In-Human]

Apocz, True like sammysdad said, trust me as you get into this longer your jumps will start to slow down big time, then its gets very hard, and that damn log book becomes your mortal enemy and the heavy anxiety sets in to beat that damn thing every rotation.

Like bigpaul and the rest have said here, one rep or just a 2 1/2 lb plate is still an increase...

[In-Human]

Apocz, I will never forget when I did 455x14RP on Smythe Incline Bench and the next rotation I got 455x15RP, and DC said, "well I see you are not immortal after all, at least I get to see you struggle for once, lol", and trust me, I had to get one more or that exercise would have been gone and that is one of my favs, and before I tried that weight I did 425x18RP.

Some days you just feel like an animal and other days you are just so-so...

[James]

Originally posted by In-Human

Some days you just feel like an animal and other days you are just so-so...

Amen to that.

[raoulmendoza]

Good point by sammysdad on the dumbell % increase. You might want to consider getting some platemates - magnets that come in 1.25 lb or .625 lb increments - which allow you to add less than 5 lbs to a dumbell, keeps progress smoother. Of course, you'll get weird looks and questions from the dumbasses at the gym but I'm sure you're already used to that with the extreme stretches.

[ApoCz]

Wow, some great responses guys, you've actually made me feel really good about my progress so far (especially sammys info, never looked at it like that). I mean come on, some guys struggle to improve anything overall for months at a time and here I am complaining that I'm not adding 25lbs to all lifts with equal reps everytime a workout comes around. Thanks again everyone.

[asim]

Everyone progresses in a different way. I started out light so that i could build the weight up anyway. At this point im still adding 10-20lbs to everything. Im really pushing myself hard though and paying for it with my joints.

Progress, whether it be slow or not is still progress. Everyone will progress at a different speed. Some do it in bursts and other do it gradually.

Just let it come along.

[sammysdad]

Remember also that the human physiology is in constant motion. Muscle turnover happens constantly so you cannot stay the same. At any point in time your body is either going forward or backward (anabolism/catabolism). In other words you are gaining or regressing. Even if you are gaining slow you are at least on the right side of the curve so start eating and take advantage of the process being in your favor. If you are not progressing at all you are really going backwards. Just something to think about.