when people say i should be doing three sets per exercise does that include warm

[madmax]

up sets. im a beginner

[YoungBlood]

To me, if someone says "do three sets" or whatever the number, I never include warm-up sets as being included.

[Painlayer69]

To me, if someone says "do three sets" or whatever the number, I never include warm-up sets as being included.

NO-ONE should

[chaos]

Do not include warm ups, the number of sets means work sets.

[io856]

No, warm up sets are not included in total sets.

 

[tbombz]

according to dante pro's always include warm up sets when they say "3-4 sets"

 

[Bobby]

according to dante pro's always include warm up sets when they say "3-4 sets"

 

well that makes sense too, if i do chest i will do a general warmup of chest, delts, tris, then 2 light warm up sets with 45s and 70s. Then i do 4 working sets pyramiding up, 85s 95s and 105s 105s but those first 2 sets i don't go all out.

so the really light warmup sets do not count toward the total, but the pyramiding does.

[YoungBlood]

Then i do 4 working sets pyramiding up, 85s 95s and 105s 105s but those first 2 sets i don't go all out.

If you can do the 105's, no matter the reps but lets say 6, why even mess with the 85's as a working set?

[d0nny2600]

If you can do the 105's, no matter the reps but lets say 6, why even mess with the 85's as a working set?

Welcome to HIT

[slaveboy1980]

up sets. im a beginner

good question   ...........i can tell you that it has caused alot of confusion for many bodybuilders thru the years!

one example:
chris cormier does three sets pyramiding up to his last set = volume training (4sets)
dorian yates does three sets pyramiding up to his last set = HIT training (1 set)

 

[YoungBlood]

Welcome to HIT

Not exactly sure of your response and what you meant by it. But my retort anyway...

If you can do the 105's, you needn't mess with the 85's except after your warm ups. Do one continuous set like so (depending on your strength levels): 40-55-70-90-105. Do all for only five reps (the last two you can do 3 reps each if you feel you have enough blood already), and the only rest you get is the the time you are switching out DB's. This way the blood gets to your muscle, you don't waste energy by doing useless reps, and you're not burning out your joints (think about doing all sets with 15 reps, how many reps have you done in your past just as warming up? Maybe later on in life you'll wonder why your joints hurt).
Take the allotted rest time.
Now start your first working set with 105's. You can now adjust the weight from here if it's too light or heavy. However, the total weight lifted and stress on your muscles will be greater. Usually if I'm doing the 105's for 8-10, I'll get two more sets like this.

[Bobby]

If you can do the 105's, no matter the reps but lets say 6, why even mess with the 85's as a working set?

I don't do alot of reps with them, don't go anywhere near failure. I just want to get a feel of the weight.

85s 8 reps
95s 6 reps
Then i do as many as possible for the next 2 sets
105s 6-8 reps
105s 4-6 reps

I'm on a low carb diet so this style of training works very well for that. If i would do 4 working set to failure with those weights i'd be dead after 2 sets.

I do the same for Delts

70s 8 reps
85s 4 reps
----------
95s 4-5 reps
95s 4-5 reps

[YoungBlood]

I don't do alot of reps with them, don't go anywhere near failure. I just want to get a feel of the weight.

85s 8 reps
95s 6 reps
Then i do as many as possible for the next 2 sets
105s 6-8 reps
105s 4-6 reps

I'm on a low carb diet so this style of training works very well for that. If i would do 4 working set to failure with those weights i'd be dead after 2 sets.

Your outline isn't as bad as I thought, most people doing 10-15 reps per set, instead of 8's. But I still feel that you're doing too many! That's just my opinion, that and .50 will get you a cup of cold 7-11 coffee!

I've been doing low-carb diets for years. Intermittently since about 99, and except for the off season splurge, since 03. I'll will do three heavy sets, with your example, using the 105's. If they feel light I move up accordingly. If I can't get 6 reps when my target rep range is 8, I'll stop and move onto the next exercise...even if it's set number 2 of 4 sets.
I usually do 3 working sets, with an occasional 4th thrown in. But I'll do 3 different exercises like that.
And I've never had a problem with being dead after X amount of sets. Even on low carbs.
Anyway...my two cents worth (or .50 to keep with the aforementioned amount ).

[Bluto]

i like to be warm when i lift weights

[d0nny2600]

i like to be warm when i lift weights

Wear a jacket

[Bluto]

Wear a jacket

yes
in my country all the big guys wear a lot of clothes at the gym and the small guys wear tanktops

[GoneAway]

I warmup as much as needed to feel safe and to get as much blood in the muscle as necessary before starting work sets. The general concensus is about 3-4 work sets. One more or one less won't matter too much if you train hard and consistantly.