How do you gauge your strength training success?

YouHadMyCuriosity

What are some ways in which you "measure" whether you are getting stronger? I thought this would be a fun topic.

For me, I time wall sits (have over doubled my time in 3 weeks! I know, newbie gains), planks, and have a couple lifting workout that I "score" either by timing them or by counting how many reps I can do. I want to start seeing what my highest deadlift and squat weights are, but I am waiting till after Christmas to buy additional weight plates.

Just looking for other ideas, and curious what others do to check their progress!

Shawshankcan

When next weeks weight is more than this weeks.

YouHadMyCuriosity

When next weeks weight is more than this weeks.

I truly can't wait to have the rest of the weights I need to track this! What is your favorite move to see higher weight on?

CipherZero

More reps per set, more total reps, more sets, more weight - all show more strength

k_stew_

Deadlifts and back squats are my favorite to see increase, but I have to work harder for increases on my push presses and jerks.

navyrigger46

The weight on the bar is my indicator.

Rigger

VegasFit

Depends on the activity but for kettlebell classes and regular weight training it's the weight I'm using. For instance I used to loath snatches and used a low weight just cause I didn't really love them but now even with a heavier weight they are no problem. Also my recovery time between sprint work and when I would gas out during has improved tremendously. When i first started taking Hot Pilates took a lot of breaks and now none unless the instructor says water break. Little things like that.

tuckerrj

When fellas 35 years YOUNGER than me stop & gawk in awe as I crank out a set of ten incline dumbbell presses with 85 pounders. Okay, bragging's over.

livingleanlivingclean

when I can lift more weight than the session before....

although weight isn't everything for building muscle

YouHadMyCuriosity

When fellas 35 years YOUNGER than me stop & gawk in awe as I crank out a set of ten incline dumbbell presses with 85 pounders. Okay, bragging's over.

Love this response- was hoping to get some fun ones! My fun one- I do love it when my husband, who has always known me as a weakling, asks me to help him with moving a bulky piece of furniture (we just moved) and I lift my side of that same piece of furniture that I had been grunting and whining about moving 3 months ago with ease. I like to surprise him with the fact that my lifting bar wasn't a waste of money

meshashesha2012

when my numbers increase and when real world stuff that used to be heavy feels light.

i order special canned food for my kitty every month and there used to be a time when the box was too heavy to pick up and i pushed it. then there was a time months later where fedex came, i took the box in one hand and signed with the other and was like "where is the rest of my order? :mad: " . turns out i had somehow turned into she-ra and the same food felt light.

MB_Positif

Increased iron on the barbell. Realizing 30 lb dumbells are not enough for me. Having my size get smaller while not losing any weight. My flexed muscle pics. Being able to carry $100+ in groceries into the house on one arm. Being able to push 960 pounds of concrete on a flat cart at Lowe's. I could go on...and on...

uconnwinsnc

When fellas 35 years YOUNGER than me stop & gawk in awe as I crank out a set of ten incline dumbbell presses with 85 pounders. Okay, bragging's over.

You got that mature muscle. That's where the real strength is at.

DavPul

ummmm...... i don't understand the question?

MB_Positif

ummmm...... i don't understand the question?

Think in terms of your general badassery.

jonnythan

Increasing endurance and strength are not the same thing.

Increasing 1rm is the way you tell if you're getting stronger.

YouHadMyCuriosity

ummmm...... i don't understand the question?

Think in terms of your general badassery.

This. I didn't intend this to be too serious of a question. What makes you feel LIKE THE HULK!?!?!

MB_Positif

Increasing endurance and strength are not the same thing.

Increasing 1rm is the way you tell if you're getting stronger.

This too.

YouHadMyCuriosity

Increasing endurance and strength are not the same thing.

Increasing 1rm is the way you tell if you're getting stronger.

Actually, for how much I wanted this to be a light hearted silly discussion, this is actually a very thoughtful, concise, and smart answer to my dumb question Thanks for that! Like I said, still waiting for my other weights till after xmas to get accurate results on my 1rms.

Question- what you the number of pushups you can do count as? Endurance or strength?

jonnythan

Increasing endurance and strength are not the same thing.

Increasing 1rm is the way you tell if you're getting stronger.

Actually, for how much I wanted this to be a light hearted silly discussion, this is actually a very thoughtful, concise, and smart answer to my dumb question Thanks for that! Like I said, still waiting for my other weights till after xmas to get accurate results on my 1rms.

Question- what you the number of pushups you can do count as? Endurance or strength?

They're not mutually exclusive. They often come together, esecialy for newbies. But if you find yourself doing 50 pushups at a time, being able to do 55 doesn't mean you've gotten stronger.

Past a certain number of reps, more reps doesn't really indicate more strength, which I really think of as the ability to produce force.

annekka

I do mainly bodyweight exercises, so for me it's when I can hold longer or the exercise feels easier to hold than it was. Currently trying to work up to read military style pushups, I'm pretty much done with doing pushups on my knees but am having trouble making the leap to military style. And by pushups on my knees, I'm relying very little on the knees to keep me up.