Start with the recorded set
A progress chart compresses a training history into a small number of points. That makes change easier to see, but removes detail. Before interpreting a new high point, return to the set that produced it.
Ultimate Lift connects a movement’s history to the loads, repetitions and effort recorded during training. The point of retaining that detail is to make the comparison inspectable.
- Which movement and variation did you perform?
- What load and repetition count did you record?
- How close to failure did the set feel?
- Did your setup or execution change?
Separate an estimate from a test
Estimated one-repetition maximum, or e1RM, is a calculation from a recorded set. It is not the same as performing a single repetition with that load.
The website’s squat example uses the Epley estimate. A recorded set of 72.5 kg for five repetitions produces an estimate of approximately 84.6 kg. That is a useful description of the example, not a promise that the lifter can perform an 84.6 kg single.
A different repetition count, effort level or technique can change what an estimate means. Keep the source set visible instead of treating the chart as a separate result.
Read the surrounding sessions
A lighter session can be intentional. In the sample history, a planned lighter week appears as a lower point before loading increases again. The chart alone cannot distinguish a planned reduction from a difficult session.
Notes, programme context and repeated comparable sets make the history more informative. Use those records when reviewing the next block or setting a new target.
Explore the examples
Product and reference examples described in this article are linked below. Sample training histories are illustrative.
