Ready to progress to heavier weights?

ClareMillsRoberts

For the past 4-5 months I've been attending classes at my gym which incorporate strength/weight training. One is a kettle bell class, and the others are circuit type classes which use different weights (dumbbells, kettle bells and bar bells) and body weight exercises. I'm enjoying the variety but I guess it's difficult to judge my progress as the classes and routines are different week to week. I'm at the stage now where I'm completing the classes fairly comfortably using light-ish weights but if I increase the weight then I struggle and can't complete the reps or can't do as many. So my question is, is it better to complete the whole class with the lighter weights or do what I can with the heavier ones? I get quite discouraged and mad at myself if I can't complete certain exercises but I want to keep pushing myself. Any advice?

SideSteel

What are your goals and what are you trying to accomplish by taking this class?

ClareMillsRoberts

I started off just wanting to lose weight but now that I am down 22 lbs to 142 (5 ft 4) I'm not so focused on the number but more on how I look/feel. I'd like to lose body fat and increase muscle mass and to feel fitter/stronger.

tulips_and_tea

" if I increase the weight then I struggle and can't complete the reps or can't do as many" - that's ok, this is the way to progress. Whenever you move up to a heavier weight most of the time you will be starting with lower reps. Eventually you'll increase the number of reps and be ready to increase again.

Given your answer regarding your goals I would definitely advise moving on to heavier weights.

rileysowner

Based on your goals you should increase weight. Having said that, the class you are attending may not be the best way to achieve your goals. You may be better served by a good lifting programs that has built in weight progression.

canadianlbs

ClareMillsRoberts wrote: »

I'm at the stage now where I'm completing the classes fairly comfortably using light-ish weights but if I increase the weight then I struggle and can't complete the reps or can't do as many.

i've always done progressive-overload training (same set of lifts every week, small increase in weight or reps over time), so in my format failing to complete the set/reps is only supposed to happen occasionally. if it keeps happening several workouts in a row then it's time to re-think some aspect of my programming.

with that said, on some lifts the size of the increase is what it's all about. idk what the progression is with the kbs you use, but the set at my rec centre goes in jumps that would be too steep for me on some lifts. i can add 10 to a deadlift or squat, but anything upper body and i can only get away with even 5 pounds for a short while. once that gets too hard, we break it even smaller - i've had sessions where i was chipping my way towards the next big number for overhead press at a rate of half a pound more every time. it's like crawling towards bethlehem on hands and knees, but in my kind of format what counts is that you keep your form and you get the reps done.