Hey, BBM team. I just completed my first workout in the Bodybuilding II template and had a quick question. I went in super confident that I could high bar squat 235 pounds for 8 reps at RPE 6 and my warm-ups seemed to suggest that was the case, but after I racked it, my honest rating was closer to a 7-7.5 for that first set. I went ahead and completed the next set at 235 as well and it felt like an RPE 8. In this instance of slightly exceeding the prescribed target RPE of the first set, but yet completing the subsequent set and clearing 8 reps for both sets, should I increase the weight next week or perhaps repeat the 235 until the first set feels like an RPE 6, and then consider further loading? Thank you!
I would increase the weight in this case, especially because you didn’t blow the RPE out of the water on the subsequent sets.
Thanks, Jordan! Will do. Brief follow-up question: For my next week at 240 lbs high bar, let’s say after the seventh rep, I feel like I’ve exceeded the prescribed RPE target of 6 for that first set, and it feels like a RPE 7-8 or so; would I rack it immediately, or try to rep it out to 8? The rep range really puts a new spin on things in my thinking.
If you’re going for 8 reps @ RPE 6, but do 7 and you’re getting the sense it’s @ 8 right now, then yes, I would rack the weight for that set.