reckonerThe decisions a coach makes, written down.
Everything here is a rule the engine actually follows, explained with real numbers. If it is on this page, Reckoner does it on Monday morning.
How Reckoner decides to add weight
Reps first, then load, then sets, then the movement. Here is six weeks of one bench press, run through the real engine, with the reason beside every decision.
- Week 14 x 660 kg
- Week 24 x 760 kg
- Week 34 x 860 kg
- Week 42 x 860 kg
- Week 54 x 960 kg
- Week 64 x 1060 kg
Real engine output, not an illustration.
What RPE actually measures
It is not how hard the set felt. It is how many reps you had left when you racked the bar, and it is the one number that decides what next week looks like.
RecoveryThe week you back off
A deload is not a week off, and here it is not a lighter bar either. Both versions run through the real engine, and the reason the load stays exactly where you put it.
ProgressionWhy you are not progressing
A lift that has not moved in a month is not a willpower problem. Here is what a real stall looks like week by week, and the four things worth checking before you change anything.