How did you pick your first working weight at the gym with no coach?
New to lifting and don't have a trainer — I know starting too heavy is a mistake but I'm unsure how to pick a 'working' weight for squats/bench/deadlifts. What one simple rule did you follow to choose your first working set (warm-up pattern, rep cue, increment size, or RPE trick), and how did you progress over the first 6–8 weeks in a busy gym?
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Simple rule: start conservative — pick a weight you can perform for 5 clean reps with good technique at RPE ~6–7 (about 2–4 reps left). Warm‑up: empty bar 8–10, then 2–3 progressively heavier warm sets (5→3 reps) to the working set. Progression: add 2.5–5 kg to squats/bench each session while form holds (smaller 1–2.5 kg bumps for upper body); for deadlifts increase more slowly (e.g., +5 kg weekly). Always prioritise form, use safety pins/spotter for bench, and deload if form or recovery suffer.