How much weight

[wingdwolf56]

Just starting out again after several( really several!) years off. How do I determine how much weight to use for each exercise? I want to cut since I'm carrying excess weight. For instance, if I'm doing 3 sets of 12 or 15, when should I expect muscle failure?

[1991NSX]

Try a low weight (guess at what would be reasonable) and do a 3 set to 10 or 12, if it was too easy and your muscles are not tired at the end then add some weight and try again and again. Usually you do 8-12 reps to build muscle. So if by that third set you should be almost at or at failure(can't finish that last one with good form). Do that for each excercise and tweak it until you get it right that first week. You should be struggling by the last few of the final set in each. If not, you need to add a little more weight.

[Ben11]

Do exactly that ^ ^ ^

Once you have found out what weight you can use for 3 sets. Continue with that for maybe 2 weeks then try adding alittle more and using that for another 2 weeks.
Keep adding as much weight as you can each week or so.
(but remember! you must have good form throughout the sets) if you think you're starting to lose good form lower the weight slightly.

[wingdwolf56]

Thanks for the replies.Sounds good to me!