Resistance training program
fatigue
Participants were randomly assigned (based on Wilks score) to one of two groups. A Wilks score normalizes strength across different bodyweights and sex. The low‐RIR group was instructed to perform barbell back squat, barbell bench press, and barbell deadlift as close to volitional failure as possible (i.e., RIR of 0–1). The high RIR group was instructed to perform squat, bench press, and deadlift as prescribed on the training sheet, and adjusting the load appropriately to not reach volitional fatigue throughout the study (i.e., RIR 4–6; see Table There was no direct supervision of sessions. Participants performed training in local gymnasiums and were required to log training on a specific Google Sheets document that was only accessible by the participant and study coordinator. Notably, these sheets were inspected daily by the study coordinators (B.A.R. and M.A.S.), and participants that lagged in filling sheets out were contacted via phone or email to remind them to update their online training log. Participants were instructed to record RIR after each exercise. Additionally, the study coordinator communicated with participants multiple times on a weekly basis to ensure that training was proceeding according to prescribed loads.