In the simplest terms, I will put it this way: based on the current calculation, I would have a topset of 125 kilo for 1 rep. That is not nearly challenging enough. I could probably nut-up and do that weight for 8 to 10 reps. It would be a literal waste of time to do it for a single and stop there.
So I gotta find what the right number is, that’s all.
I see where you are coming from and agree if it is that easy I would probably set it a little higher.
Here is the devils advocate. Lets say you didn’t change it and you ran it for a whole year with only a deload every 4 cycles (because its so light). Adding 5kg every cycle.
You would do 16 cycles in a year, multiply by 5kg per cycle that is 80kg. This time next year your single rep is now 205kg ?
He doesn’t deload at all judging by his log!
Haha, I see the logic there. But then one could say why not start even lower and end up with 195? Or start higher and end up with 215? And so on. It also assumes that I am in a “forever” mode, and I am not sure about that yet. Partly because I don’t know if I am going to commit to this higher bodyweight.
But think of it his way: If I am doing the long jump, I want to start my sprint at the right place to get the best lift off. Right now I am starting my sprint outside the stadium. No point in that, need to get closer.
Exactly, deloads are for crybabies and simpletons.
Yes there is this
But there is also this
and this
All I guess I was really getting at is, 1) at our age there is little benefit from rushing and 2)You seemed to be rushing towards something but then you also seem to not be exactly sure what the goal was.
No, no rush. I do get frustrated when something is not where I expect it to be, so that will come through my words. My goals are mostly upper body related right now, so my squat just needs to be strong enough to provide a platform. Would I like to work back up to a double bw squat? Sure. But no hurry. This is all about the starting point. If I were rushing, I would just put it straight up to 140 and be done with it.
But I do feel like I need to think a bit more long term from a goals point of view, so you are on to something there. I do not have a plan.
If all I did today was this, then in the words of Ice Cube ‘today was a good day’
You made me think about cheesecake!
I’m with you on that one, because our squats are around the same (I’m also using a super conservative 140 TM) and what good could do 5 x 10 with 75? This would feel like paper weight, and not even cardio
@simo74, on a related note, do you think doing a rep max (AMRAP) is less demanding than the Joker sets? I don’t aim for a 1RM with my Jokers. I have actually preplanned mine. My TM is 285 right now, but I plan to do a single are 300 or 305 each week. As my TM goes up, my top set goes up as well.
From my experience, the AMRAPs were harder on me than these TM sessions. The difference might be that I was always trying to set a new e1RM every session. I’m not doing that now.
Well then you have your answer I guess? It depends of people, for going higher in %age of my 1RM always drain me more than more volume
I definitely agree AMRAPs are both more difficult and more taxing. Which is not an argument that one is better or worse than the other, but that is a different conversation.
It’s technically an argument against @simo74. 
We both think we’re doing the less intense version.
Well, to @aldebaran ’s point, I suppose it could be different from person to person, and maybe also depending on which way your are currently tuned. But I have done a TON of each, and I think AMRAP is quite a bit harder.
Yeah, I’m sure a neurotyping test is in order.
You and I seem to be built/wired similarly. I would bet that people who prefer higher reps like AMRAPs.
I do reasonably well at amraps but infinitely prefer just adding more weight and keeping it going with low reps!
My favorite number of reps in a set is 1 ahahah
That’s just not the case for my body, who prefers volume
Not sure if you also misunderstood me or are just moving this to another argument but I will try and explain.
I will answer your question directly first. I think doing a properly executed amrap set will be more demanding than an extra single at your TM (doing more singles than this or triples will change that answer)
Looking back to @Cyrrex session he did a triple in his joker set not just one single. This is what provoked me to ask the initial question.
To be clear I also think that doing extra jokers after your planned single will be more demanding than not doing this and sticking with the sets and reps as programmed.
I will ask you the same question as I asked C. Why do the jokers ? Is it because you think it will help you progress quicker ? Is it because you just want to move a specific number ? Does it mean you were stronger on that day ?
If you want the training to be heavier then just program to have a heavier single. But if you do this you may then need to think about adjusting the volume sets to keep you recovering and progressing.
If you want to push yourself or like pushing hard then pick a program that allows for this, hence my point about doing Amrap instead.
C had already said he wasn’t focusing on squats (Much like you at the moment), hadn’t used heavy weights for a while and had struggled with squats the week before. The point of the discussion was mostly to make him really think about what he wants to achieve and to program accordingly. I think We are all guilty of wanting too many things at once and often guilty of trying to rush towards an arbitrary number because it makes us feel better about ourselves.
I want to maintain or creep my squat strength up but I don’t want to do a lot of volume to get there. Doing a single Joker after my TM lets me move a heavy single and I think that will keep me from going backwards. If I add 5 lbs to that each cycle then maybe I’ll get a little stronger, too.
My Joker set is based on how I feel that day. If my TM set flies up then I’ll probably add 20 lbs. If it’s a grind then I might only add 10 lbs or even call it a day right there.