I don't understand your post. There is no mention of testing 1 rep max (1 RM) in the article. Are you under the impression that the HRT group was training by

I don't understand your post. There is no mention of testing 1 rep max (1 RM) in the article. Are you under the impression that the HRT group was training by only performing 1 RM lifts? That wasn't the case: > At a commercial gym, HRT performed a supervised full body programme three times per week, with 6–8 weeks of initial habituation. The periodisation programme was machine based and each exercise included 3 sets of 6–12 repetitions at ~70%–85% of 1 RM, which was estimated using the prediction equation according to methods by Brzycki Meanwhile the moderate group did something very similar, just with more repetitions and less weight: > 3 sets of 10–18 repetitions at ~50%–60% of 1 RM I don't see how one is more "realistic" than the other.