adding on weight to DL squat and BB bench

[gnimelf]

I have been going to the gym for just under a month and prior to that had never been before in my life.
The smallest plates my gym has are 1.25kg so the smallest I can increase weight by is 2.5kg, and it's getting tough.

On DL and squat I am doing ok increasing the weight by 2.5kg each session although it is starting to get very difficult to get out the last rep.
Bench however is now not possible for me to do 3x5 increasing it by 2.5kg each session I am up to 57.5 at the moment and could only do 4 reps for the first 2 sets and 3 for the last.

Should I increase bench every second session or is there something else I can do?

[GeneralSerpant]

Increasing weight is comparable to increasing time under tension. Most people don't increase their weight 1 lb at a time. Increase your reps or sets, until you can raise the 5 lbs minimum.

[jammyo40]

Another option is to buy fractional plates or make your own.

[mrmrbill]

Another option is to buy fractional plates or make your own.

The ultimate micro-plates for they have a multitude of gym uses: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...#post816616171

OP, they come in handy 2 x 1.25lb sets. Or get some equivalent weight magnets at a hardware store, probably more cost-efficient.

[gnimelf]

Increasing weight is comparable to increasing time under tension. Most people don't increase their weight 1 lb at a time. Increase your reps or sets, until you can raise the 5 lbs minimum.

Sorry I don't completely understand what you are trying to say.

Do you mean increase the weight until I can do 3x5 and when that time comes then increase the weight again?
Or do you mean go back down to 55kg until I can do say, 3x6 and then increase?

[IDrinkBloodLOL]

Protip: You don't increase weight each session, you increase weight when your body has adapted to the weight you already use.

Usually the process is more like this: Successfully do goal number of reps (5x5, 3x10, whatever)->add more weight->gradually increase in ability to do more reps->meet goal reps->add weight->....

It looks like people have already noted that, so I'll just leave this here in reinforcement of that concept.

[gnimelf]

Protip: You don't increase weight each session, you increase weight when your body has adapted to the weight you already use.

Usually the process is more like this: Successfully do goal number of reps (5x5, 3x10, whatever)->add more weight->gradually increase in ability to do more reps->meet goal reps->add weight->....

It looks like people have already noted that, so I'll just leave this here in reinforcement of that concept.

ahh ok thank you very much!

Just to double check - I can do 3x5 @ 55kg so I up the weight to 57.5kg and do as many reps as I can per set until I do the equivalent of what I am trying to achieve. So in this case 3x5 thus 15 reps?

[jgreystoke]

Am I right in assuming you are doing Starting Strength?

If so you obviously started far too heavy for your bench. You are not supposed to start anywhere near your 5RM.

[Tillday]

ahh ok thank you very much!

Just to double check - I can do 3x5 @ 55kg so I up the weight to 57.5kg and do as many reps as I can per set until I do the equivalent of what I am trying to achieve. So in this case 3x5 thus 15 reps?

No, you do 3x5 at 55kg, then next week your goal is 3x6 or 3x7 at 55kg until you're at 3x8-12 then you add weight and go back to 3x5.