# Sacrifice reps to maintain RPE or sacrifice RPE to maintain reps? **URL:** \ **Category:** Training Discussion\ **Created:** [April 11, 2019, 12:08am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/sacrifice-reps-to-maintain-rpe-or-sacrifice-rpe-to-maintain-reps/5439 "2019-04-11T00:08:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tomfb97](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/tomfb97/32/1220_2.png) [@tomfb97](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/tomfb97)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 12:08am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/sacrifice-reps-to-maintain-rpe-or-sacrifice-rpe-to-maintain-reps/5439/1 "2019-04-11T00:08:32Z")
Still new to RPE so apologies if this is obvious. Say I’m doing a set of 4 reps @ 8, and after the third rep I know that the fourth rep is going to be a 9, would it be better to do the forth rep anway and now the set is 4 @9, or would it be better to finish the set there and count it as 3 @8? ---
**Author:** ![ozneil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/858c86/32.png) [@ozneil](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/ozneil)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:34am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/sacrifice-reps-to-maintain-rpe-or-sacrifice-rpe-to-maintain-reps/5439/2 "2019-04-11T01:34:02Z")
Don’t even think about the RPE until you finish the last rep. Then write down what it was even if that’s a 9 or a 10. Use that to plan your next set (don’t need to get a calculator just make rough adjustments). The prescription of reps and RPE is not an exact science. If you do 4 @ 9 you’re not going to have a materially different training effect than 4@8 or 4@7, in case you’re worried about that. It’s not even a big deal if you regularly get them “wrong”. You’ll still get the same benefits from training and your ability to judge will improve over time. ---
**Author:** ![GoWolfpack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58f4c7/32.png) [@GoWolfpack](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/GoWolfpack)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 3:48pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/sacrifice-reps-to-maintain-rpe-or-sacrifice-rpe-to-maintain-reps/5439/3 "2019-04-11T15:48:02Z")
Finish the set if possible regardless of the RPE. If you overshoot, adjust the weight for your next set. ---
**Author:** ![sjalbrec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@sjalbrec](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/sjalbrec)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/sacrifice-reps-to-maintain-rpe-or-sacrifice-rpe-to-maintain-reps/5439/4 "2019-04-11T18:16:40Z")
only thing i would add is that your goal should be to never fail a rep. better to choose a lower starting weight. if you’re accustomed to SSNLP, then you’re used to struggling on reps. RPE is designed to make training achievable but still deliver a productive dose of stress. it takes a while to get over feeling like RPE based workouts aren’t hard enough. you’ll soon acclimate and should enjoy your workouts more. ---
**Author:** ![Rubendanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Rubendanger](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Rubendanger)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 7:03pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/sacrifice-reps-to-maintain-rpe-or-sacrifice-rpe-to-maintain-reps/5439/5 "2019-04-11T19:03:38Z")
> [@sjalbrec](#): > > it takes a while to get over feeling like RPE based workouts aren’t hard enough. This is super helpful. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![DylanKittrell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/dylankittrell/32/4927_2.png) [@DylanKittrell](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/DylanKittrell)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2019, 2:50am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/sacrifice-reps-to-maintain-rpe-or-sacrifice-rpe-to-maintain-reps/5439/6 "2019-04-14T02:50:24Z")
First thing is first, recognize that you’ll be fine either way as long as this isn’t a problem that you’re consistently running into. What’s 1 rep out of the hundreds of thousands that are to come in your future? The Choice Paradox is a good book to look into if you find yourself constantly torn between choices that are ultimately insignificant. Just make a choice and move on is the gist. There’s probably not a “right” answer here, and anytime spent worrying about which choice is correct is likely more detrimental to your overall training outcomes than that 1 rep. Train on my dude. ---
**Author:** ![tomfb97](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/tomfb97/32/1220_2.png) [@tomfb97](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/tomfb97)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 11:58am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/sacrifice-reps-to-maintain-rpe-or-sacrifice-rpe-to-maintain-reps/5439/7 "2019-04-27T11:58:57Z")
I’m definitely still adjusting to the idea that short term training and individual sessions don’t actually mean much when it comes to long term training outcomes. Thanks for the advice everyone - I really appreciate it!