Anchor Exercise
Also known as: Key Lift, Indicator Exercise
The single exercise in a session that best represents your strength output — automatically selected based on tonnage contribution, historical recurrence, and data quality (RPE availability, set count).
Formula
Anchor Score = 0.5 x (exercise tonnage / session tonnage) + 0.3 x (recurrence / max recurrence) + 0.2 x (data quality score). Must exceed 0.3 threshold.Example
If your session is 60% squat tonnage, you've squatted in 5 of the last 8 sessions, and you logged RPE with 4+ sets, that squat is almost certainly your anchor.
How Afitpilot Uses This
The anchor exercise's e1RM is tracked over time (up to 7 data points) with linear regression for trend detection. We show deltas vs. your last session, 3-session average, and mesocycle start. The confidence rating (High / Medium / Low) reflects how many data points we have and how well they fit the regression line.
Typical anchor exercises by athlete type
| Who / Context | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Powerlifter | Squat / Bench / Deadlift | Big 3 dominate tonnage and recurrence |
| Regular gym goer (PPL split) | Rotates: squat, bench, rows | Different anchor each session = broader tracking |
| Active aging (60+) | Leg press / Chest press | Stable form; tracks 6-12 month strength trends |
| Hybrid athlete | Varies by session type | Lift-day anchor only; cardio sessions don't produce one |
Known Limitations
- •Auto-selection can pick a different anchor from session to session if your training varies significantly (e.g. upper/lower split). This means the "trend" may compare different exercises across sessions.
- •Exercises must have at least 2 sets with logged weight to be candidates. Single-set exercises, bodyweight movements, and exercises without weight data are never selected.
Science Context
Tracking key indicator lifts over time is standard practice in periodized programming. Using e1RM rather than raw weight allows meaningful comparison across different set/rep schemes within a mesocycle.