Why I Don’t Count Reps

Bob Paris

We’ve all heard the wise men lecture us that we need to do a specific number of reps in order for the exercise to be productive.

Except for a handful of fitness trainers who I follow on YouTube, nobody seems to understand that FEELING each rep completely overrides any arbitrary number of reps, be it 8, 10 or more.

Focusing complete attention on the muscle being worked, called the target muscle, is what builds and strengthens that muscle, not pumping out a preordained number at the cost of proper form.

Long ago I was impressed by something the great Bob Paris said about someone criticizing him (who in their right mind would criticize Bob Paris?) because, at his Mr. Olympia size, he was doing barbell curls with a “measly” 60 lb. weight. His reply, which I paraphrase here, was “If I can make a 60 lb. barbell feel like 120, who’s going to break the news to my biceps?”

I’m sure the critic didn’t have a clue about what he meant. Paris was performing deliberate, slow reps without any cheat—no rocking back and forth, no using momentum, fully extending the target muscle and flexing/squeezing fully at the top of each rep.

Next workout, try to slow down and totally concentrate, making the target muscle do 100% of the work with no cheating, no momentum, no rocking back and forth, or using other tricks to convince yourself into thinking you’re accomplishing a productive workout.

After all, there’s nobody around anymore to try and impress these days. Make the most of that.