I understand that as I start a new cycle, I am supposed to increase my maximums for each rep range by five pounds or so. How do I know that my muscle has grown enough to manage that increase in poundage at the end of each two week rep range? Is it a problem if I get to the end of the 10's, say, and I can't manage to get to 10 reps with the new weight?
Also, I'm fairly new to lifting, and several exercises have very low maxes. In an exercise like, say lateral raises where I have a 12 lb/dumbell for 10 rep max, what would be the best way to break down the increments? I did 6/8/8/10/10/12 on my first cycle. Is there a better way to break it down? That's only two pound increments, which seems small compared to what the HST writings suggest, but much larger and I won't have any weight on the dumbells at all to start with.
Thanks!
Also, I'm fairly new to lifting, and several exercises have very low maxes. In an exercise like, say lateral raises where I have a 12 lb/dumbell for 10 rep max, what would be the best way to break down the increments? I did 6/8/8/10/10/12 on my first cycle. Is there a better way to break it down? That's only two pound increments, which seems small compared to what the HST writings suggest, but much larger and I won't have any weight on the dumbells at all to start with.
Thanks!