Alpha Progression
Available weights
Redirected from "Weight increments"
Available weights are the loads that can actually be selected for an exercise in a particular training setting; weight increments are the steps between those options. They are determined by the equipment, not just by the number a program would ideally prescribe.
A dumbbell rack might move from 20 kg directly to 22 kg, a selectorized machine might use 5 kg stack increments, and a barbell can combine the bar with the plates present in the gym. The same written exercise can therefore offer different loading choices at home and in two different gyms. Cable-machine labels are also not necessarily comparable across models because pulley arrangements and calibration can differ.
Available increments affect progression. Moving from a 10 kg to a 12 kg dumbbell is a 20% increase, whereas adding 2 kg to a 100 kg barbell is only 2%. The first jump may be too large even when the lifter is ready for some additional challenge. In that situation, double progression, more repetitions at the current load, or microloading can bridge the gap. Rounding a calculated target to a loadable value is normal; the nearest option is not automatically the best one if it changes the intended effort substantially.
Treat displayed weights as practical labels rather than laboratory measurements. Plates, machines, and dumbbells can vary slightly from their marked mass, and friction or leverage changes how a machine feels. For tracking purposes, consistency usually matters more than correcting every small manufacturing difference. Record the setting that lets you reproduce the exercise, including units and relevant machine details.
In Alpha Progression, a gym profile can store equipment and weight-increment settings. The app’s progression recommendations can then account for the load options at that gym instead of suggesting an unavailable number. These gym-profile and recommendation functions are part of Alpha Progression Pro. The configured list should still reflect the equipment you can safely and reliably use.
