Compare like with like
Suppose one low-bar squat session ends with 72.5 kg for five repetitions and a later one ends with 75 kg for five. The second set has a heavier load. Before calling it better training, check that both entries describe the same squat variation and a similar standard of execution.
Now look at the effort recorded beside each set. If the first ended with an estimated two repetitions in reserve and the second was near your limit, the extra 2.5 kg came with a different effort. Both records matter; the headline weight alone misses the difference.
- Match the movement variation and repetition count.
- Compare the load and recorded effort.
- Read any note about setup, depth or a changed session.
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 sample squat reference uses the Epley calculation. A set of 72.5 kg for five repetitions gives an estimate of about 84.6 kg. That number describes the input set through a formula; it does not mean the lifter has performed an 84.6 kg single.
Keep the source set beside the estimate. Different reps, effort or execution can make two estimates less comparable than their points on a chart suggest.
Check the week around it
A lower chart point may reflect a planned lighter week, fewer reps or a set that felt unusually hard. The point alone cannot tell you which. Open the workout and read what was planned and what was completed.
Look for several comparable sessions before deciding that a trend has changed. One set is a useful observation, not a verdict on the whole training block.
Keep reading
Open the programme, movement or training record mentioned above. Sample training histories are illustrative.