Nasty habit I used to have was basing my weights on what I’ve since called an “aspirational max”.
An “aspirational max” is a figure I’ve pulled out of my backside, based on either what I think I should be able to lift or an actual lift I’ve made at some point in the dim and distant past.
A form of ego lifting, in other words.
I’d like to say I’ve vanquished the habit, but, alas, I have not. It still rears its ugly head from time to time (with predictably disastrous results) and this is a large part of why I’ve moved away from strict percentage based lifting routines.
I suspect you’d do well to emulate my example if you also struggle with this issue to the point you can’t help yourself but plug in a load you want to lift rather than one you actually can.
Alternatively, you could take a gander at “The Six Week Peak” because Step Two (of three) has you discover your “Any Day Max” (a lift you could make on pretty much “any day”, hence the name) which you use to calculate all of your weights for the remaining weeks.
This makes it literally impossible to set your weights too high, provided you do as I command in the book and don’t go fiddling with things because it looks “too light” on paper.
And so we arrive at the pitch:
“The Six Week Peak” is an eBook that was once an integral part of a 6 week coaching package which is no longer for sale.
But it’s such a sleek and simple little system I figured it’d be a shame to let it sit on my hard drive gathering dust.
The price?
£20.
A lot less than a bag of whey protein (apart from those “bargain basement” tubs that will give you diabetes).
And, I daresay, the info inside, properly applied, will do more for your ability to add weight to the bar than circa 50 servings of slimy gunk.
But I am biased.
Whatever.
If you want it, go here to fully inform yourself prior to purchase:
https://philtyreman.co.uk/peak
Thank you,
Phil Tyreman