I’ve heard that a 5 rep max should be 85% of your 1 rep max. However, for me, my 5 rep max is closer to 82-83%. What does this say about me? I know its not that big of a difference, but in general, why can some people handle higher percentages for more reps?
It says your pretty much normal. I don’t think anyones 5rm is exactly 85% of their 1RM.
Throw in the word approximatly and you are within the normal range.
If you reads CT’s article from today he mentions that a 2-3% variance can usually be caused by form variations between athletes.
Cool. Thanks. But also, why is it that some people can do 3 reps with weights over 90%, while I can only do 1 or MAYBE 2 if I’m feeling good? Does that have to do with how the body is made up or anything?
[quote]DjSm28 wrote:
I’ve heard that a 5 rep max should be 85% of your 1 rep max. However, for me, my 5 rep max is closer to 82-83%. What does this say about me? I know its not that big of a difference, but in general, why can some people handle higher percentages for more reps?[/quote]
Let me guess, you are a science student. Good numbers in your profile BTW.
Haha. I am majoring in Exercise Science. And thank you for the compliment on my numbers.
Well whats the deal with this… there is a guy at my high school who maxes out at 240lbs on bench press. But when it comes to getting reps he can barely rep 180 for 5(has to have help on last rep halfway up). So why is his one rep strength so much better than his I guess “endurance” strength.
[quote]DjSm28 wrote:
Cool. Thanks. But also, why is it that some people can do 3 reps with weights over 90%, while I can only do 1 or MAYBE 2 if I’m feeling good? Does that have to do with how the body is made up or anything? [/quote]
The more neurologically efficient you are, the fewer reps you can do with a given percentage of you 1rm. This is because you use a greater percentage of your muscle fibers with each rep, thereby your muscle tires quickly.
Advanced athletes (particularly those that train with heavy loads and low reps) are the most efficient, and all thing being equal, men more so than women. This is why a powerlifter might only be able to get 2 or 3 reps at 85%, but an untrained woman can get 15-20.
typically it refers more the what rep range you’ve been working in mainly (recently) rather than being a fast twitch machine or anything that people try to make it out to be because of these percentages, unless its very pronounced
[quote]DjSm28 wrote:
I’ve heard that a 5 rep max should be 85% of your 1 rep max. However, for me, my 5 rep max is closer to 82-83%. What does this say about me? I know its not that big of a difference, but in general, why can some people handle higher percentages for more reps?[/quote]
It says you worry too much about percentages. Just keep lifting hard and heavy and don’t sweat the small stuff.
With a bench 250…unless are you like 100lbs or a girl…I seriously doubt neural efficacy has anything to do with it. The statement is correct, but I don’t think it applies here. Endurance really is the most likely culprit…or muscle fiber make-up i.e. people that do crew can row 90% for like a half hour. Maybe that is an exaggeration, but you get the point. Still that capability is trained…i am still sticking to the endurance thing.
[quote]UHCougar05 wrote:
DjSm28 wrote:
I’ve heard that a 5 rep max should be 85% of your 1 rep max. However, for me, my 5 rep max is closer to 82-83%. What does this say about me? I know its not that big of a difference, but in general, why can some people handle higher percentages for more reps?
It says you worry too much about percentages. Just keep lifting hard and heavy and don’t sweat the small stuff.
[/quote]
Of course. That’s always good advice and I appreciate it. I was just wondering about it. I tend to think about stuff like that.
So perhaps because I do a lot of singles and lower rep stuff on accessory lifts, it means I can’t push higher percentages for longer. That makes sense.
I am more in the neural effiency camp but that is only drawn on from my experience. I could fall into the 100LB girls camp though.