How much weight?

[cheynejj]

Hi all,

I'm a new beginner to working out and I need some help. This may sound really stupid, but I don't know how to figure out how much weight to use when I am working out on the machines and whether or not I should increase or decrease with each set. Can someone please let me know?

James

[drrickso]

if you are trying to find a hard number to base your sets on, you learn by doing
some programs call for x% of your maximum which you would figure out through trying
no matter what though, your first step is to find a workout program- figure out the weight after
if the program calls for 3x5, start with the least weight and see when it gets difficult, when you struggle with your 5th rep of your third set, you found the right weight.

good luck... and to keep it on topic, get yourself 300lbs worth of plates to start out with and add accordingly.

[BulkMore]

Just use around tree fiddy for each one..

Seriously though...if you put weight on the bar and do a couple reps is it easy? hard? how many reps can you do? If you can do 8 reps its probably time to throw some more weight on. Rinse and repeat.

[bobcat255]

Here's what I recommend:

Pick a weight that's not too heavy and do it for your programs' prescribed sets x reps. Let's ay 5x5 or 3x8. Then each week, increase it by a nominal amount (say 5lbs). You'll quickly find the weight you should be using.

Don't vary the weight set to set. Keep things consistent workout to workout. Work on standard linear progression.

By the way, do get a program if you aren't following one. A structured program is the most sure way to make progress. I started with Jason Blaha's Ice Cream Fitness 5x5 / StrongLifts 5x5... it's dead simple, everything is spelled out, etc.

Last but not least, form > weight. You lift with effed up form and include 'cheats' into your routine while you're a beginner, it'll never stop and you'll have a harder time making long-term progress.