Confused about RPE

[Mike]

I just read Scott's article Intuitive Training Defined and am a little confused as to how to use RPE in my program. Let's say I do a set of sideswipes for 5 reps and decide that my RPE was 5 (on a scale of 1-5). So the effort was great. Now, at my next session I do the same set of 5 reps on swipes but let's say they feel easier this time around and my RPE is 3!! So the exercise was easier and the effort was less, but if I had done 8 reps instead of 5 my RPE would be higher right?

So my question is, should I manipulate my workouts to keep effort high? If an exercise feels easier should I add reps to increase effort???

[Scott Sonnon]

Mike,

Read: Smartly Hard or Hardly Smart? (http://www.circularstrengthmag.com/18/sonnon2.html) - RE: Training Type Chart.

Where you target your RPE depends upon the TYPE of training you're conducting for your particular cycle, firstly. All actions cause adaptation, regardless of how you value that adaptation.

Secondly, you impact RPE not merely from intensity, but also from volume, frequency, density and complexity.