working weight

Definition

The actual load used for prescribed training sets, excluding warm-up sets and maximal attempts. The weight where the real work happens and excuses stop working.

Example Usage

After three warm-up sets, his working weight of 225 pounds felt simultaneously lighter than expected and heavier than desired.

Origin

General strength training terminology

Fun Fact

People often confuse their working weight with their ego weight—one builds muscle, the other builds regret and minor injuries.

Source: Strength training programming terminology

Related Terms

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lunk alarm

A siren system at Planet Fitness that sounds when someone grunts too loudly, drops weights, or otherwise exhibits behavior deemed too 'gymtimidating'—essentially a panic button for people afraid of effort sounds.

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Superset

Performing two exercises back-to-back with no rest, because apparently regular sets weren't miserable enough. It's the gym's version of a double feature, except both movies are about suffering and the popcorn is protein powder.

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training partner

Someone who shares your workout schedule, spots your lifts, and witnesses your gym face at its worst. A relationship built on mutual suffering and the understanding that 'one more rep' is always a lie.

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training max

A submaximal weight used for program calculations, typically 85-90% of your true one-rep max, because programming off your absolute maximum is how you get injured and disappointed simultaneously. It's the humble approach to getting stronger.

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accessory work

The supplementary exercises performed after your main lifts to address weaknesses, build muscle, or fix imbalances. The vegetables of your workout—you know you should do them but they're less exciting than the main course.

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stretching

The pre-workout ritual where you contort your body into various shapes while pretending it prevents injury, or the deliberate elongation of skeletal muscles to improve flexibility and reduce the feeling of being a rusty tin man. Despite decades of debate, the science on whether stretching actually prevents injuries remains hilariously inconclusive. What's certain is that skipping it guarantees you'll feel 85 years old the next morning.

⚽ Sports / Fitness

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