Hey, you pay attention to what Arnold Schwarzenegger has to say. You take notes as he’s about to discuss his knowledge gained from the gym and how it might help you with your lifts and gains.

Prepare your pen now. Because in his most recent newsletter, the muscle-loving Men’s Health star offered some helpful training advice.

First tip: “The weight increases as the reps decrease.”

Trial and error is the key to making those guidelines work, according to Schwarzenegger. Some people ask me to choose the weights for them, but that’s not a good idea—I’ve worked out for 60 years. I could give you a better deal or a worse deal.

Tip #2: The final two reps should be challenging but not impossible.

Additionally, he thinks that experimenting with your workouts is essential and that it takes time to discover the ideal ratio of reps and weights.

LINKED STORY

Is The Greatest Influencer Still Arnold Schwarzenegger?

“I want everyone to realize that your gym is your lab,” he says. Don’t assume that you failed if you used a weight that was too low and had to perform eight more repetitions until the reps become difficult. Don’t assume you made a mistake if you chose a weight that is too heavy and have to quit before completing your reps. You gained knowledge!

He also suggests that you follow these guidelines gradually and not to rush into things. “Take the weight you did for eight reps and add five pounds if this is your first time doing five reps,” he advises. “If it’s too simple, add five more.”