Do all programs start so light?

[bwaclawc]

Just curious.

I've been looking at programs to try and find one I want to do next.

All of them have you start at a weight that seems too light to do any good to me.

I understand you need to ramp up throughout the program, but it seems like the first several weeks would be too light of a weight to make a difference or give you any kind of good workout.

Is this normal?

[SuffolkPunch]

It's part of a planned mesocycle in a periodised program. Don't assume it's "not doing you any good" because it's a submaximal load. This kind of programming has been shown to bust through previous plateaus many times in the past. The idea is that you are still getting in volume but giving your nervous system a rest from failure or near failure training which has a particularly large impact on accumulated fatigue.

[InItForFitness]

It's part of a planned mesocycle in a periodised program. Don't assume it's "not doing you any good" because it's a submaximal load. This kind of programming has been shown to bust through previous plateaus many times in the past. The idea is that you are still getting in volume but giving your nervous system a rest from failure or near failure training which has a particularly large impact on accumulated fatigue.

This ^^^


Starting too agressively leaves little room for consistent progression and development.

[derickp38]

I'm doing this program right now http://www.bluestarnutraceuticals.co...-you-workouts/ it's "light" weight 50-60% of your 1RM..Very challenging if you do it correctly and keep the tempo

[superpumphenry]

They make you start light at first, because if you trained at maximal poundage the first week then you would stall much quicker.

[bwaclawc]

Cool. Thanks for the replies.

Just wanted to make sure I was seeing it right.

[KDG730]

I agree you need to start with a weight you can easily complete the first week but to waste time like starting with the bar is pretty idiotic if you have any experience. Feel free to start with decent weight but dont ego lift off the bat of you will start failing your rep ranges fast

[bwaclawc]

Obviously not the bar.

Most programs say to start with a percentage of your max or to start with your 10 rep max or something like that. But even those weights seem too light to me to do any good.

[SuffolkPunch]

"seem"

As long as you start a cycle with at least 55-60% of 1RM you are probably doing useful work and setting yourself up for supercompensation later on in the training cycle.

[hilts1969]

Just curious.

I've been looking at programs to try and find one I want to do next.

All of them have you start at a weight that seems too light to do any good to me.

I understand you need to ramp up throughout the program, but it seems like the first several weeks would be too light of a weight to make a difference or give you any kind of good workout.

Is this normal?

Just started stronglifts this week and planned to follow it to the letter, lasted 7 minutes before i upped the weight, if you already have a certain amount of strength seems daft spending weeks losing it just to build it up again, have picked a weight that i can do the 5x5 whilst checking out/refining my technique, need to keep that back straight as a habit before i go balls out

[BioSmith91]

Just curious.

I've been looking at programs to try and find one I want to do next.

All of them have you start at a weight that seems too light to do any good to me.

I understand you need to ramp up throughout the program, but it seems like the first several weeks would be too light of a weight to make a difference or give you any kind of good workout.

Is this normal?

Its called accumulation. Every training session builds on the last one, producing an effect that is more profound then the two sessions combined. If you were to just start off with weights that are maximal, you're not going to see any progress. There is simply no room for you to accumulate adaptations to allow you to lift weights beyond your previous best.