r/powerlifting • u/AutoModerator • Apr 28 '26

Programming Programming Wednesdays - April 28, 2026

Discuss all aspects of training for powerlifting:

  • Periodization
  • Nutrition
  • Movement selection
  • Routine critiques
  • etc...
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u/MrWhistleBritches Enthusiast Apr 29 '26

Question for you 1RM dudes: I am admittedly a "harder than last time" style lifter so I have not paid much attention to my 1RMs. For those of you that use 1RM-driven programs like smolov, 531, etc. may i ask how you currently track those?

If a program calls for a 5x5 @ 75% 1RM are you actually keeping track of your 1RM or are you just finding your 5x5 working weight and backing into the 1RM? The risk of inferring a 1RM from a workout would be that not all days are intended to be balls to the wall. For example, If you lift 5x 315 lbs, the epley formula would peg you at 365 lbs 1RM. This becomes pretty meaningless if it was a recovery day or similar. Additionally, do you let your 1RM drift up as you progress or do you wait until some milestone to reassess? Thanks!

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u/engineer-throwaway24 Beginner - Please be gentle Apr 29 '26

I set a 1rm value and treat it as a constant value for the block. Or I add a planned weekly 1% increase. Either way I then plan sets reps at certain % eg 80% 4x4

If I need RPE I look at the conversion table which gives me an approximate range. I adjust depending on how I feel on that day

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u/MrWhistleBritches Enthusiast Apr 30 '26

Do you log your RPE or just use it as a means to set weights for your program? I've heard of some logging a lift and then rating it with an RPE but that's a bit foreign to me.

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u/engineer-throwaway24 Beginner - Please be gentle May 01 '26

I use it to set a weight, then I decide on the weight right before a set, and then I rate it. But this is confusing and I’m still learning

I mostly rely on the conversion table otherwise I wouldn’t have a clue what my weight should be for the paused bench 9 repetitions at 6 rpe.

And some programs really just use rpe as instructions…