We often have new members who reach out and ask, what is a training max? Is that the same as a one rep max (1RM)? The short answer is no. Your training max should be a number you can hit for a confident rep on any day of the week without a doubt (even when you don’t feel your best). On a good day, this is the heaviest weight you might be able to hit for 2-3 repetitions. Because intensities are prescribed relative to your training max, your training max should not be a weight that is an all-time 1-rep max that you hit once under ideal conditions.
By programming based on a Training Max you could hit on any day of the week (similar to the concept of a “daily minimum”), we are able to plan a progression that keeps you moving forward on both your best and worst days — and everything in between. By starting with a more conservative training max, you will better set yourself up for long term progress as intensities climb and ensure that you can still complete the planned work on even the worst of days while pushing for new PRs when things feel great.
When should I adjust my Training Max?
Each regular training week will include suggestions on how and when to adjust your training max based on how your training is going (for example, if you complete more than a certain number of reps on an AMRAP set, or you reach a top percentage above a defined threshold on an Ascending set). For any movement prescribed as a percentage of your Training Max, be sure to click on 'Read more' and read the notes section as there will be helpful information on how/when to adjust as needed.