Comments on: The Last Two or Three Repetitions

By: Sarabeth Phillips

Sarabeth Phillips — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 13:09:00 +0000

Yes! So good!!!

By: Santy Perry Garabote Paule

Santy Perry Garabote Paule — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 08:02:00 +0000

Thanks! I thought that putting a range 6-8 meant that it’s ok if you get to the 6th.

By: Jonathan Miller

Jonathan Miller — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 06:09:00 +0000

This blog post is a win b/c of the Pumping Iron video alone.

By: Brian Hafner

Brian Hafner — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 02:17:54 +0000

Thanks. Great article. I was always a little vague on what we are supposed to do with the ranges in a workout.

By: Kyle Blackman

Kyle Blackman — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 09:39:02 +0000

Great post John. I had some friends in town this weekend and they were asking about CrossFit. The basic rundown I gave them covered this same ground. The first thing I talked about were the gains you realize from those last couple reps where your mind tells you you can’t do another rep, but you’re physically capable of it. Pushing through for that final one is where fitness happens. With a supportive community, you can really excel far beyond areas you thought were unattainable. Glad that atmosphere exists at Invictus.

That said, happy to be a new part of the sea of green!

By: prochargedmopar

prochargedmopar — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 22:59:51 +0000

From this point forward I will always target the higher end of the rep range and add weight until it’s impossible to achieve.

By: Marty

Marty — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 05:48:37 +0000

Great post John!
I have to admit I’m guilty of this at times, but I usually look at a 6-8 rep range as 8 reps. If I fail at the 5th or 6th rep, I know I pushed myself to my limit. One excuse I’ve heard is that there is still the conditioning part of the workout. If I’m the last one completing part B or have the lowest number of reps, it really doesn’t matter if I gave it everything. With that being said, I still need to work on the mental part of not putting the barbell down during the conditioning part.

By: Cj Martin

Cj Martin — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:40:55 +0000

The rep ranges are provided because most people don’t know what they are capable of. The rep range allows you to select a weight and INTEND to achieve all 8 reps. So let’s say you choose a weight that you THINK you can only get for 6 reps, that doesn’t mean you stop at 6 reps just because you achieve it . . . you still go for another rep, and hopefully surprise yourself.

The problem that we see is with athletes who go into the set with the mindset of “I chose a weight I can do for 6 reps” . . . and then stop once they achieve the 6 reps. They are cheating themselves as much as the person who uses a lighter load and achieves all 8 reps easily.

More often than not though, people will choose a weight and be able to achieve all 8 reps. When that is the case the rep range assignment provides a nice mandate. It essentially says, “Ok, you guessed wrong and went too light, go pick a heavier weight and try to do 8 reps again.”

If you’re hitting 6 or 7 reps, stay put, you found a good working weight. Does this clarify for you why I use rep ranges?

By: John Franklin

John Franklin — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:41:14 +0000

Thanks Joe, but I always encourage discussion. We are all here to learn, and challenge each other.

By: John Franklin

John Franklin — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:39:56 +0000

Absolutely! The goal is to push yourself past your comfort level, if you do that day in, and day out, the numbers on the whiteboard will improve.