how do you count sets?

[jeff1974]

this question may not be as stupid as it sounds. although it still could be. the question is, when you tell someone that you do 5 sets for flat bench or 5 sets of bicep curls, what do you count as your first set? personally, i warm up with light weights. for example, if im doing bicep curls i will do the following:

set 1: 25lbs x 10reps
set 2: 35lbs x 10
set 3: 45lbs x 10
set 4: 50lbs x 7
set 5: 50lbs x 7

does set 1 really count as an effective set? would most people consider this a set? if not, should i be doing another set?

 

[Lee]

for one, 5 sets of 1 type of curl is over doing it. i personally do not count warmup sets.

 

[H_T_]

yeah, you have warm ups and working sets.

 

[mad_monkey59]

generally you don't include the warm up sets.

 

[Carl Carlson]

Like everyone else, I generally don't include warmup sets. When I say I do X sets of an exercise, I'm talking about working sets.

 

[help4john]

When you start struggling and grunting....start counting them as sets.