Why did you decide on 3 sets for each exercise?
I derived my system from a Russian bodybuilding coach. Don't ask me his name because I forgot it and I can't find the information I originally used online.
Basically the way the system works is this:
Set #1: Do as many reps as you can until failure and use a weight that will allow you to fail in the 8 - 12 rep range.
Rest while taking 10 deep breaths... (around 15 - 20 seconds)
Set #2: Do as many reps as you can using the same weight until failure. (If you did 10 reps on set 1, you'll probably do 6-7 on set 2)
Rest again while taking 10 deep breaths
Set #3: Do as many reps as you can using the same weight until failure. (If you did 6 - 7 reps on set 2, you'll probably do 2 - 4 on set 3.
That's it. That exercise is done.
The system is not based on number of sets. It's based on this simple rule:
After you complete set 1 of 8 -12 reps to failure, you continue with additional sets to failure with a rest period of 10 deep breaths between each set, and each set uses the same weight as set 1. You stop the exercise when the last set you did resulted in a rep count that was less than half the reps of your original set.
Most exercises stop at set #3, because that's when you end up doing less than 50% of the reps you achieved in set #1.
Most exercises require 3 sets, but not all exercises work out like that though. Some exercises will require additional sets to get below the 50% threshold, and will vary from person to person. For example, it takes me about 7 sets of leg extensions to get below 50% of what I did on set 1 for that particular exercise.
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