[KeyserSoze]

I was thinking I should max on deads/bench/squats about every 8 weeks. I recently remaxed because I'm just starting out and I think when I initially maxed my form was poor and my body was not used to doing the lifts. Now that I am going good and doing the lifts correct, how often should I remax. I like maxing because it shows your improvement, and it helps keep you pushing for higher and higher weights. I just don't want to max too often.

[Standard]

i never set a specific time frame to test a max, i just go by what my body tells me, if i'm tossing up the weights i normally do really easily that day i'll usually change my rep scheme and try a max lift.

[BabyPhenom]

If you're talking a 1 rep max, definitely every 8 weeks at most

[TDonovan]

I only max out when challenged. Otherwise I just use my regular lifting records as my progress marker.

[DEVILsSON]

Depends. There are different rep maxes. 1 rep maxing is difficult to do. 10 rep maxing is considerably easier.

I personally love lifting at my max at any given rep range. I have maxed my deads once every 2.5-3 weeks(i only train deads once about 2.5-3 weeks) at about 95-105% for couple years with great success.....it's brutal on the body and CNS but I have added a 250lb to my dead so it works for me. As long as I am able to correct imbalances and prevent injuries I can lift this way pretty well...i still back off from this from time to time and do other things....I still max out at other lifts eveyr workout, just not at 1rm....depending on the lift/how i am feeling/etc, it can be anywhere from 3-10 range....

I would says once every 6-8 weeks is a good amount of time to test improvements in 1rm.

[jerrylundergard]

Ive had excellent gains maxing every week for months on end. Ive done this before and added nearly 50 pounds to my bp and around 100 to my dl.

My program is considerably less complicated than pretty much everyone elses around here and it probobaly contributed to my success with maxing every week. My program consists of Bp 1xper week, squat 1xper week, dl 1xper week. No assistance. I think the key to maxing week in and week out is to keep the assistance work to a very very very low and light minimum after the sets of near 1rm. I dont recomend maxing on squat very often if ever. For squats I go anywhere from 3-15 depending on how hard I work my dl the same week. If your maxing on dl I would def. go ligher weights and higher reps on squat that week or visaversa.

I can always increase my lifts each week by at least 2 pounds on my 1rm if I behaved properly during the week. If I really did everything right and wasnt sick I usually will increase around 3 pounds every single week.

Disclaimer. When I mixed in jj 3xper week with near maxing everyweek the results were disastrous. It lead to lower back pain that sidelined me for a good while. So if your maxing every week you should monitor very closely anyother activity that you will be doing.

If you max everyweek I would keep your assistance to light non taxing assistance. I personally feel after maxing you should go straight home eat and lay down for 30 to 40 minutes.

I think that someone could easly follow a program that maxed every week for 4-8 weeks or longer, depending how your body felt. Then mix in higher rep stuff then get back to maxin again.

Conclusion, great tactic to be employed for spurts throughout the year and should only be used during the "off season".

[Donut62]

I typically do ME for an upper and lower body lift every week. So technically, I am maxing out constantly (expect every 4th week which is RE only and reduced volume to deload). Exercises are constantly rotated, though, but I typically do each lift once every 6 weeks or so.

[Madmick]

Well, supposedly you can test your max once a month to reconfigure your load scheme, but I like two months better.

Doubles should give you a pretty accurate idea of your max, though, so if you want to increase the frequency of your testing above once per 8 weeks, then I'd consider staggering doubles and singles for testing.

[BabyPhenom]

Originally Posted by Madmick

Well, supposedly you can test your max once a month to reconfigure your load scheme, but I like two months better.

Doubles should give you a pretty accurate idea of your max, though, so if you want to increase the frequency of your testing above once per 8 weeks, then I'd consider staggering doubles and singles for testing.

Are you talking about a 1rm or a 2-5rm?

[Madmick]

Originally Posted by BabyPhenom

Are you talking about a 1rm or a 2-5rm?

1RM. I don't know about its popularity, but I know some NSCA coaches prescribe max testing once monthly for elite athletes to plan 4 week microcycles (the ones who don't think 1RM maxes are too dangerous to do in the first place). And I think I read this in Bompa, too.