Barbell Prescription Question

[Beerthirty]

Hello, I am starting the basic hlm cycling routine example 24-16 on page 260. Is it repsxsets or setsxreps? What confused me was week 1 light day written 285 x 5 x 2. Is that 5 sets of 2 reps?
Thank u in advance

[stef]

The convention is weight x reps x sets.

[Brent Carter]

What Stef said.

Where it gets confusing is when there is no weight prescribed just 'number' x 'number'. In this context the order is reversed and the convention is sets x reps. So if you read: "Squat 3x5" this means "If you would please be so kind as to squat with three sets of five reps (nary a rep more nor less) I would most graciously appreciate your efforts." Or something along those lines.

[Arkansan]

I think it’s written in the book somewhere. I remember reading it just not sure which book.

[ExpertOrBust]

I use this mnemonic to keep the Weight x Reps x Sets and Sets x Reps straight.

"What Rip Said, Sully Repeated"

[stef]

What Stef said.

Where it gets confusing is when there is no weight prescribed just 'number' x 'number'. In this context the order is reversed and the convention is sets x reps. So if you read: "Squat 3x5" this means "If you would please be so kind as to squat with three sets of five reps (nary a rep more nor less) I would most graciously appreciate your efforts." Or something along those lines.

"Squat 3x5" corresponds to typical speech for that general case: "Squat 3 sets of 5." The other construction would be awkward.
"135x5x3" corresponds to an actual session, done or planned since sets are based on groups of reps and you can't have a set without reps: 135 x 5 occurs first, with the second set 135 x 5 x 2, and the third, 135 x 5 x 3.

People write these things many different ways, but obviously a convention had to be chosen. You are of course, free to do whatever you like best in your own writings, but if sharing with others, make sure to clarify.