and you will add pounds to your -rep squat. ough this -rep squat-
ting will be very hard it will never totally crush you so that you become fear-
ful of your training. Training enthusiasm must be sustained.. If you had to almost die in the effort, and yet still failed to get all reps, you
will probably fail to get the same “failed” rep count next time, let alone the
full . Train hard, for sure, but do not go over the edge and kill your gaining
momentum. Take the extra months to progress slowly and steadily, rather
than try to pack all the gains in – weeks and burn out after four.. Consider the following two scenarios, and see which one is best. e first
scenario is the macho one. e starting weight is absolutely at the hilt of the
trainee’s capabilities, e.g., × . Despite being totally crushed, with sore
arches in his feet, a strained lower back, and a fear of ever doing anything
like that again, he gets psyched up the following week and makes all reps
with pounds. en after a week of -rep squatting nightmares, and
with all aches and pains apparently gone, is tried, but only reps are
completed. Disastrous! And the final reps of that failed set were done with
loose form. A week later, with a few aches still resident, and despite all the
cajoling of a supportive audience, again reps cannot be beaten. en with
a crushed spirit, and a crushed body, the -rep squat is discontinued. e
fallout includes injuries and a hatred of a potentially super-productive way
of training.. Here is the second scenario, the conservative one. Start with × . All
reps are made with lots of room to spare. Over the next five weeks, squat-
ting once a week, pounds is added to the bar each week. Your mind and
body adapt, your supporting structure toughens, your cardiorespiratory
system adjusts, and good form is maintained. After five weeks you will be
at × . ough it will be demanding it will not push you to your limit.
You will mentally and physically adapt to the rigors, and enjoy the challenge.
en you get out your little discs and start adding pounds per week. Five
weeks later you will be using for . ough it took you ten weeks to get
where you could have been if you had started off with × , you have
laid the ground for much further progress, and you are mentally and physi-
cally challenged to push on. Five weeks later you make × , with room
to spare. A further five weeks you make × , again with room to spare.
ough the work is darn hard, you always have a little room to spare each
session. en after ten more weeks of further slow and steady but safe and
sure progress, you hit the “magic” × , which is an outstanding achieve-