on programs like Waterbury’s TBT (or his recent posting on beginner programing) http://www.T-Nation.com/readTopic.do?id=508031
the loading parmeters should be such so that you are near failure on the last rep of the last set. If you are constantly changing your set/rep parameters is it not hgard to gauge what is and what is not the correct weight to use? Does this not make the first cycle of a program more of a hit/miss when choosing your load?
Furthermore, if you are rotating exercises will you not have to revalute each time you start a session?
I know exactly what you mean. Don’t do what I did and play around everytime. Choose a weight and stick with it. How to choose? impossible to tell, just take a fair guess. But by all means, just stick with that choice. If 3x8 at 115 is really easy, only increase by 10 next time. Just make sure you dont try to increase by a ton at once. If you still are skeptical, take a week to find your 5, 8, and 15 rm and than dive into the program.
It will be hard to gauge when you are just starting out. As you gain more experience you will have a better idea of what weights will take you to near failure. CW uses a lot of staple compound movements, so as you do these over and over again you will have a better idea where you max is.
He usually tells you to use a percentage of a 1RM, so it won’t matter that the rep schemes change so often. If you are in doubt it is better to go a little light and finish all the reps.
Hope this helps.
Guess better to start lower, work damn hard stop a rep shy and aim to progress. its as simple as that if you end up doign 13 reps instead of 10 OK so you know better for next time