The Repetition Count Is The Measure NOT The Goal

In this video I explain why the common recommendation to always try to perform more repetitions of an exercise or lift more weight than you did previously is wrong and what you should do instead.

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  • Donnie Hunt Jul 24, 2019 @ 15:23

    I don’t know what else I would consider the safest way to stimulate new and maintain strength. No fancy, high skill positions, no special equipment necessary ( aside from being able to make it the resistance progressive ). Diligent dedication. Just as it takes to consume wholesome real food. I think about the comment Ken Hutchins and you have made about caring for one’s teeth as well. This is not flashy, attention getting, aggressive looking stuff. This is like something Doug McGuff said in Ultimate Exercise, like a steady financial investment that will keep working for you. I suppose some of the brush over this type of exercise gets is due to outward look of it. It is like a silent or camouflaged goldmine.

  • Dylan Aug 16, 2019 @ 10:28

    Hi Drew, thank you so much for your hard work in putting so much knowledge on this website. I’ve been doing HIT for 3 weeks and already gotten a lot out of it. 2 questions:
    1. Why do I shake profusely on certain exercises and is it normal? Ex. Leg Press, Ab crunch, Stiff Leg Deadlift. My hypothesis is that it’s either weakness, Bad form, Bad exercise choice for my body structure or a combo of all three.
    2. Is it ok to do shorter negatives in the beginning of the set (3-4 seconds) and longer negatives (6-7 seconds) at the end of the set if it allows me to increase total time under tension?
    Thanks again!

    • Drew Baye Dec 27, 2019 @ 9:54

      Hey Dylan, it is normal for some people to tremble or shake during exercise due to the effects of fatigue on motor unit recruitment.

      The goal of the exercise isn’t to increase total reps or TUL, but to efficiently load and fatigue the targeted muscles to achieve momentary muscle failure within your target TUL. Don’t change the exercise in a way that makes it easier to do this unless you misjudged the weight and have to do so to achieve your lower target repetition count or TUL.

      I explain this in more detail in several videos in the private Facebook group for HIT List members.