Strength I

[double nickels]

I have just started on the Strength I workout and I am having trouble understanding the lifting weight changes for the 6/1/6/1/10/15 sets. For example on the bench press, my past best was 100 lbs. so I tried a 100/110/105/115/110 and didn't do very well. I had similar results with the dead lift (175/185/180/190/185/185), I could not lift any of the sixth set. Any suggestions as to what I am doing wrong, or what I could do different that would be right?

[LisaS]

6 reps, 1 rep (maxish effort), 6 reps, 1 rep (maxish), 10 reps, 15 reps.

If I recall the intent correctly (and someone will correct me if I'm misremembering) something like:
6x90, 1x105, 6x95, 1x110, 10x85, 15x75 would make more sense. And this would assume 110 would be a working max attempt (e.g. maybe you'd get 2-3 reps but no more).
Not necessarily for your exercises & your strength - but the pattern of reps & weights.

In other words, looking at the weight for the 15 rep set (e.g your 185), it wouldn't also be the weight for the max attempt (i.e. the 1 rep attempt)

[Hunter]

Originally Posted by LisaS

6 reps, 1 rep (maxish effort), 6 reps, 1 rep (maxish), 10 reps, 15 reps.

If I recall the intent correctly (and someone will correct me if I'm misremembering) something like:
6x90, 1x105, 6x95, 1x110, 10x85, 15x75 would make more sense.

Exactly

[double nickels]

Thank you so much. This is very helpful and exactly what I needed.

[double nickels]

LisaS,

Thanks again for your excellent suggestion. I have gone through all four workouts one time in the Strength I program and have had good results each time. I very much appreciate the help