Reference Points
Also known as: Benchmarks, Baselines, Comparison Anchors
Contextual comparison points that give meaning to your session numbers. A tonnage of 4,200 kg is meaningless in isolation — but "4% more than your 3-session average" tells a story.
Formula
refLast = most recent completed session metrics. refAvg3 = average of last 3 completed sessions. refBlockStart = first session of current mesocycle.Example
Your session load was 4.2t. vs. Last: +5.1%. vs. 3-Session Avg: +2.3%. vs. Block Start: +12.0%.
How Afitpilot Uses This
After each session, we compute three reference bundles — Last Session, 3-Session Average, and Mesocycle Start — for effort, volume, load, and anchor e1RM. These appear in the post-session summary to contextualize your performance within your current training block.
Why the same number means different things
| Who / Context | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 90 kg powerlifter | 3,000 kg session = light recovery | Well below their typical load |
| 55 kg beginner (3 months in) | 3,000 kg session = personal best | Massive relative to their history |
| Active aging (60+) | Block start comparison is key | Week-to-week gains are invisible; 6-week deltas are motivating |
Known Limitations
- •Reference points are only available once you have enough completed sessions (1 for "Last", 3 for "Avg3", and a mesocycle boundary for "Block Start"). Early in a program, most references will show as "N/A".
- •The 3-session average doesn't distinguish between session types (heavy vs. light day). Comparing a deload session against an average that includes peak sessions can produce misleading deltas.
Science Context
Relative comparisons (within-athlete, over time) are more informative than absolute numbers for training monitoring. The mesocycle baseline comparison aligns with block periodization principles where progressive overload is expected within a training block.