Whats some pros and cons to my workout?

Right now, whenever I do an exercise, I do four sets. After each set, I add 5lbs. For example I'd start with doing 10 reps of 110lbs. After that I do 8 reps of 115lbs and so on until I reach 4 reps of 125lbs. I've been doing this for many years now (with various exercises) and I was wondering if this was the reason as to why I keep plateauing.

I read somewhere (bodybuilding.com) that this method is good to exercise with because it increases your one rep max and helps build endurance. However, I feel that if I don't lift as much as I can after every set, I'm only cheating myself.

What do you think? Any suggestions?

Answer:
You need to work at a percentage of your maximum. If you are doing 4x10 with progressive weight you are not gaining strength. If you can do 3x10 and complete the 3rd set you need more weight. You can alternate days, where you lift light, medium, and heavy on different days. However, if you are looking for strength gain you need to max out on your reps. There is a difference between bodybuilding and strength gain. Determine your maximum lift, use 85% of that number for your weight doing 3x10. If you can finish the last set then raise the weight.
Muscles tend to become accustomed to something repetative. If you've been doing the same workout for a while, you may need to vary the routine. Try working backwards, after your warm-up, do your max weight as many reps as possible, then drop the weight and repeat, for four sets.

The medicine and health information post by website user , ByeDR.com not guarantee correctness , is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.


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