Ramp Up on Isolations?

Bigger Stronger Leaner
1

What’s up fellow T-Nation members?

Is ramping up only for compound exercises or do you do it on isolation exercises too? I’ve searched everywhere but still haven’t found an answer. Isolation exercises like DB lateral raises, which I do 2nd in my shoulder workout. What I did before was to use 30 lbs DB’s for 4 sets, to failure (about 10-15 reps). Recently I started ramping up on it and I used 20’s, 25’s, 30’s, 35’s, then a triple dropset. I feel like the last method is the “right” one. What do you guys think?

Just not sure if I’m “supposed” to ramp up on things like cable pushdowns, lateral/bent over raises, DB curls, etc.

2

More often than not, yes. The only time I won’t is if it’s later in the session, I’m doing higher reps (at least 10-12 but more like 15+), and it’s a movement that I have no issues getting a great MMC on.

3

Yea. Do most guys here ramp up on the small isolation stuff or just pump for multiple sets not really worrying about progression on the small lifts. What about bodyweight stuff?

4

I ramp every single lift

5

I don’t like to. It’s hard enough to advance on weight used on iso movements as it is. What you can do is advance on total poundage week to week, and I feel like ramping your sets minimizes what you can put out in a day.
i.e.
8x50, 8x60, 8x70, 8x80…toasted
vs.
4x8x70 (2240 total lb v. 2080)

Moreover, if you’re cranking out 70 and 80 for the prescribed reps on 3rd and 4th sets, I feel it’s hard to justify the first two as being “work” sets. Just my experience though.

6

[quote]jskrabac wrote:
I don’t like to. It’s hard enough to advance on weight used on iso movements as it is. What you can do is advance on total poundage week to week, and I feel like ramping your sets minimizes what you can put out in a day.
i.e.
8x50, 8x60, 8x70, 8x80…toasted
vs.
4x8x70 (2240 total lb v. 2080)

Moreover, if you’re cranking out 70 and 80 for the prescribed reps on 3rd and 4th sets, I feel it’s hard to justify the first two as being “work” sets. Just my experience though. [/quote]

I tend to agree.

If I do something like this, I find myself throwing weight around more than training muscle on the heavy sets in order to try and meet the prescribed reps.

I tend to like either using straight sets or dropping the weight (and using stricter form) every set.

7

Both, whatever gets you results is what you should do, trial and error.