When Should You Test Your Strength??

[Primal]

Hey everyone! Yesterday I was feeling pretty good on my leg day and I decided to go for 1RM to see where I was at on my squats. I had previously tested it a while back in August and I had gotten 230 lbs with decent speed for one rep. Anyways, I got up to 255lbs and I wanted to hit if for a double! The first rep I got, it was a grind however. The second rep I ended up failing on which sucks because I know I could have gotten a 260 for a single if only I hadn't tried for the double... I really want to try for my 1RM again but I was wondering how long I should wait until attempting it again? I always try for every 2 months but I'm not sure if that's a good amount of time or not.

I know a while back I got 225 on the bench and I was going for my 1RM literally every week to bump it up which was stupid. Which brings me to another question, do different muscle groups need different times for when they can be tested for their 1RM? For example, squats (legs) can be tested every 2 months or so but bench press (chest) should be every 3 or 4 months? Just a little uncertain and I know if I don't know, then I'll always be trying to go for maxes all the time which would be detrimental for me.

I never used to understand the attraction towards power lifting but I've got to admit, once you break a PR, going for numbers can be really addicting! Can't wait to crush that 260 squat next time!

-Primal

[Hosehead]

Hey everyone! Yesterday I was feeling pretty good on my leg day and I decided to go for 1RM to see where I was at on my squats. I had previously tested it a while back in August and I had gotten 230 lbs with decent speed for one rep. Anyways, I got up to 255lbs and I wanted to hit if for a double! The first rep I got, it was a grind however. The second rep I ended up failing on which sucks because I know I could have gotten a 260 for a single if only I hadn't tried for the double... I really want to try for my 1RM again but I was wondering how long I should wait until attempting it again? I always try for every 2 months but I'm not sure if that's a good amount of time or not.

I know a while back I got 225 on the bench and I was going for my 1RM literally every week to bump it up which was stupid. Which brings me to another question, do different muscle groups need different times for when they can be tested for their 1RM? For example, squats (legs) can be tested every 2 months or so but bench press (chest) should be every 3 or 4 months? Just a little uncertain and I know if I don't know, then I'll always be trying to go for maxes all the time which would be detrimental for me.

I never used to understand the attraction towards power lifting but I've got to admit, once you break a PR, going for numbers can be really addicting! Can't wait to crush that 260 squat next time!

-Primal

What kind of program are you following ? Unless you are training specifically for strength then I'd say never bother with 1RM at all. IMO 1RM have no place in bbing. Too risky injury wise and strength isn't the least bit necessary in bbing. If you can get away with lifting less and still be able to attain a look which says you lift a shitload then that's the winning formula.

[Primal]

What kind of program are you following ? Unless you are training specifically for strength then I'd say never bother with 1RM at all. IMO 1RM have no place in bbing. Too risky injury wise and strength isn't the least bit necessary in bbing. If you can get away with lifting less and still be able to attain a look which says you lift a shitload then that's the winning formula.

Not on any program at all, just thought that it would be interesting to see where I'm at considering I'm so weak for my age that's all. So I guess you don't do 1 RM Hosehead? Everyone always said go for strength when I was first starting out, but do you guys mean stay within 80-85% of my max? I guess that would make sense... Hahaha I forget who said it but they basically summed up what you said, "Why lift 500 pounds when you can LOOK like you lift 500 pounds?"

-Primal

[steve_d]

Not on any program at all, just thought that it would be interesting to see where I'm at considering I'm so weak for my age that's all. So I guess you don't do 1 RM Hosehead? Everyone always said go for strength when I was first starting out, but do you guys mean stay within 80-85% of my max? I guess that would make sense... Hahaha I forget who said it but they basically summed up what you said, "Why lift 500 pounds when you can LOOK like you lift 500 pounds?"

-Primal

1rm for curiosity seems like something I would avoid. Even powerlifters rarely do 1rm unless they are in a meet. When people say go for stength, I think a better interpretation would be 'lift with intensity'. Rather than thinking about %s from you max, I would rather lift in certain rep ranges. Some people can push many reps with 80% of max, others can only handle 1-2. It all depends on what your conditioned to at the time. It doesn't hurt to vary things up and push heavier weights as long as you are not risking injury. Going for low reps for a while, and gaining strength usually has benefits to the higher rep range as well and breaks some plateaus. But just for the sake of 'seeing where you are at' I would just not bother.

At the moment, I could probably get my 1 rep max for bench to go up by 50 pounds if I had a meet to go to in a couple months. It's a different type of training, and gaining strength on a 1 rm is different than just training and going for 1 rep every once in a while to see where you're at.

[Primal]

Oh ok thanks for the clarification Steve, I see what you mean by the max %s to reps. That's really good of me to know, thanks! I'll stop with the 1 RM's then and focus again on that bodybuilding hypertrophy rep ranges but also switch it up with some strength stuff every once and a while! Thanks again,

-Primal

[Praetorian]

If you want to add serious size you will have to improve your strength levels dramatically. There is no such thing and getting big without getting strong. Dont get me wrong you dont need to train like a powerlifter but you better get good a the three big lifts and be pushing some serious weight otherwise it will be pipsqueak time forever. How much did Ronnie squat? Front squat? How about Dorians incline? Kevin Levrone shoulder press? Chris Cormiers incline press? Nassers's bent row? Arnolds power curl? Casey Viators squat? the list is endless...its black and white.

P

[Hosehead]

Don't forget Andy Haman's 600 lb flat bench press for reps lol. Guy is so strong he gets his kid to spot him. Biggest ****ing goof in bbing.

[Primal]

Ok good to know! Thanks! I'm trying to break into the 1000 lb club before I hit 20 this summer. Currently at 870lbs so we'll see I guess.

-Primal

[TT Eric]

Just read this article: http://anabolicminds.com/forum/content/how-strong-bodybuilders-6050/

About 'How Strong Are Bodybuilders?'

Eric

[Primal]

Cool thanks Eric!

-Primal

[scottlove]

Just read this article: http://anabolicminds.com/forum/content/how-strong-bodybuilders-6050/

About 'How Strong Are Bodybuilders?'

Eric

For us "closet bodybuilders" (on the larger side), we may not be as strong as powerlifters but I would say we're (at least) twice as strong as the average guy at the gym.

[TT Eric]

I see myself as a bodybuilder with a goal to be as strong as possible. So I'm always seeking to improve my strength.

Eric

[Primal]

I see myself as a bodybuilder with a goal to be as strong as possible. So I'm always seeking to improve my strength.

Eric

^This. Getting big is obviously the most important thing to us bodybuilders... if that involved curling pink 2 lb weights to be massive then hell yeah I'd do it! But every once and a while you wanna be able to go full ham on the weight and I honestly hope that when I'm screaming pulling a heavy dead lift it won't be below 400 lbs... cause that would just be embarrassing to me personally.

-Primal