periodisation again - bit silly really

[Malcolms Billy]

Bit of a silly question this maybe, but I'm braving it : I've been adding weights nicely to my workouts, in almost all areas, since starting on this periodisation cycle. So far the reps have gone down and the weights up - quite like that Thing is, after next week I'm supposed to be doing 13 - 15 reps per set, and I'm thinking, there's no way I can do 13-15 reps with the weights I'm doing now, because I'm really pushing it by the second half of every set and need at least a minute's rest inbetween to gatehr enough strength to do another set. Have I misunderstood the whole thing and are you supposed to maintain the same weights during a whole cycle, or will it have to be 'all systems go' next week and push the same weight that I'm now doing 6 reps with for 13 reps? Or will i just have to back down to a weight that I can mange for those reps?
I know it sounds dead silly, but 'do first and think later' seems to be one of my traits (not reading properly is another )

See ya,
Billy

[Oak]

Hi Billy,

Don't really know what kind of program that you are on, but i can share some of my (limited) experience.

Whenever i have gone down in reps it's only natural to put the weight up because your are not going to be doing it as often.
For example when was doing 2 sets of 12 on the leg press i was using 120kg. but then i went up (and down) to 3 sets of 8. So i started using 140kg then built up to 150kg.

The thing with puting weights up is that i think that your rest time inbetween sets should go up. Maybe you could double check this.
I was having one minute rests for my 2x12 but now i have one minute thirty seconds for my 3x8.

The other thing i have found is that if you are attempting to do some weight that you know you can not just do. Then i use mini breaks.
For example i am just working on putting up my dumbells, for chest presses up to 20kg from 18kg. There are no 19kg.
So when i am using the 20kg if i feel my muscles beginning to tire i hold the weights up for 2-3 seconds or longer if need be and then continue until i have finished the set.

I think the important thing is just to get the set done safely and with good form. Maybe a temporary drop in weight would be a good thing until you get used to it and then pump the weight back up. Or is this not what the program would allow.

I personally would find it pretty impossible to do the same weight with as much reps as you are aiming for unless i cut down the amount of sets.
Our poor wee muscles.

Oak