What does PR mean in gym

PR in gym stands for Personal Record for a given exercise. You can hit a PR for lifting a specific weight, doing a certain number of repetitions or sets for an exercise, or do an exercise or workout within a set time limit.

Introduction

Have you ever heard people in the gym (or in YouTube videos about working out!) boasting about hitting a PR and wondered what the heck that means? Or maybe you've seen someone scribble "1RM" on a whiteboard and felt utterly lost?

Don't worry; I've got your back! In this article, I'll explain what a PR is, what types of PRs there are, what the difference between 1RM and a PR is, and why chasing PRs can be a good thing.

So, let's get right into it!

What does PR mean in gym

Alright, let's start with the basics. "PR" is nothing but an abbreviation for Personal Record. It's a gold star on your fitness journey, representing your best performance in a particular exercise or lift. Imagine lifting the heaviest weight you've ever lifted or completing a certain number of reps you've never managed before—that's a PR!

It's no wonder people are excited and happy when they hit a PR because it's like conquering a mini fitness mountain they couldn't conquer before.

In short, a PR is a personal record for lifting a certain amount of weight in a specific exercise, completing a certain (high) number of reps for an exercise for endurance, or completing a number of reps in a specific amount of time (i.e., time-based).

Common types of PRs

PRs can come in various shapes and sizes, depending on your own fitness goals and the exercises you're focusing on. Below you'll find some common types of PRs most people chase in the gym:

Max weight PR

A weight PR is a personal record of lifting a new (maximum) weight for a specific exercise.

This one's the most well-known type of PR and is similar (but not identical!) to a 1RM.

A 1RM is the maximum weight you can lift for a single repetition in a specific exercise. It's the ultimate test of strength for a given exercise, and it's the metric most people who do bench pressing, squatting, and deadlifting want to advance in.

However, a 1RM is different from a PR. As stated above, a 1RM is the maximum weight you can lift for a given exercise. Suppose that the maximum weight you can bench press for 1 rep is 264 lbs (120kg) and that you do a push workout once or twice a week in which you end your chest routine with a maximum bench press of 264 lbs for 1 rep.

Does this mean that you hit a bench press PR once or twice a week (i.e., during your push workout)?

Well, the answer is "no." And that's because a rep a weight PR is considered a PR only if it's the first time you were able to lift that weight! It doesn't matter if you've hit a plateau and you're bench press is stuck on 264 lbs for 1 rep for several months. During that time, you're not hitting a PR every time you bench press that weight for 1 rep. But, if after some time you could hit 270 lbs for the first time... that's your new PR!

Repetition PR

As the name suggests, this PR is all about the number of reps you can perform with a certain weight. It might be something like reaching a new high by completing 12 pullups when your previous best was 10.

A repetition PR is usually done for 1 set, in which you try to do (usually) as many reps as possible for a given exercise with a certain weight. To measure and analyze a repetition PR, you need to track your progress for the same exercise and the same weight for that exercise over time. For example, your rep PR for incline bench press may be different than your rep PR for flat dumbbell chest press. However, both exercises work out your chest muscles.

Set PR

A repetition PR doesn't have to include 1 set only, though (for example, doing 1 set of 12 pullups). When you're trying to do a specific number of reps for as many sets as possible, then you speak more of a set PR. An example would be to do 6 reps of 220 lbs (100kg) squats for 8 sets, where your previous best was only 6 or 7 sets.

A set PR and a repetition PR rest on the same aspect of fitness, namely that of endurance.

The difference is that during a repetition PR, lactic acid build up in your muscles will be the limiting factor for the number of reps, while during a set PRgeneral muscle fatigue will be the determining factor for hitting that PR.

Time-based PR

For those involved in cardio or endurance-based activities, a Time-based PR is a big deal. It's all about beating your previous record in completing a specific workout or running a distance in less time.

But a time-based PR is not necessarily limited to cardio workouts. You can use time-based PRs for strength and resistance training as well. There are multiple ways to implement time-based PRs into strength training and bodybuilding, for example:

• Complete 4 sets of 12 reps for a specific exercise and with a specific weight for each set in a certain amount of time, for example, 10 minutes.
• Complete 100 reps of crunches in 2 minutes (this type of time-based PR is very similar to a Repetition PR, except that time is now a factor as well instead of solely the number of reps).

Why chase PRs?

Why can chasing a PR be a good thing? If you can't think of any (of the many available!) reasons why hitting a PR every now and then can be a good thing, just think about keeping your motivation up.

Whether you're trying to lose weight, get shredded, gain mass, or get stronger...at one point, you'll hit a wall, and your progress to whatever your goal is will plateau. When the results of all your hard work don't immediately show, it can be hard to keep yourself motivated. And that's why tangible, measurable results can act as motivation boosters...and that's exactly what I found PRs helpful for.

Hitting a new PR is a sign that whatever you're doing, you're making some progress on it. And it becomes tangible when you load up the barbell with a weight you don't think you can handle, yet you still manage to handle it! That's clear and irrefutable evidence of progress, and it can significantly boost your motivation.

Conclusion

So, there you have it—the inside scoop on what "PR" means in the gym! It's your Personal Record, your badge of honor, and an emblem of progress on your fitness adventure. Whether you're aiming for that heavy 1RM or pushing for a few more reps, chasing PRs keeps your fitness journey exciting and rewarding.

Now that you're equipped with this knowledge, head to the gym with a newfound sense of purpose and prepare to make those gains. Embrace the challenges and celebrate your victories. Remember, though, safety comes first..always!

I hope I’ve made it clear to you what the meaning of PR in gym is. If you still have any questions, feel free to contact me...otherwise, have a look at the rest of my blog.