Different weight sizes

MRC77

I just recently got back into weight lifting after about 10 years, and at the gym I have noticed that more then a few people start of with low weights and then go adding more during their sets. One guy started the bicep curl at 60lbs, then the next set of reps was at 90lbs and by the time he was done with all his sets he was at 170lbs. What is the benefit to lifting weights this way if any?

Smuterella

I would assume the top weight was his actual lift and the others were warm up sets...

stward9280

You sure he was bicep curling 170 lb!??

Smuterella

Yeah, that does seem a bit crazy! How big would that dumbell be!

Was he using a barbell?

cyclingben

thats what we did to build muscle and strength in power lifting. By the end of your sets you are at 90% of your max .

RAFValentina

I've seen people curling 80Kg in the gym using a bar... EZ curl, olympic and the shorter one...

I assume warmup sets or perhaps he hasn't lifted in a while and testing the water with lower weights and upping it as he went... sometimes if I'm unsure how I am with a weight, I'll do a set and if it seemed to easy, add some on and try again... might have to do this a few times 'til I find one that's "heavy enough" for me to do my reps and need to rest after completing them. I underestimate my own strength, am not experienced enough to know what's best for me... to avoid injury I start at one I know I'll be happy with such as the bar + 7.5Kg, then see if I can add 10Kg instead of 7.5Kg etc etc...

MRC77

Yeah I am sure on the 170lbs, it was with a bicep curl machine not dumbbells