Training to Failure

[D Animal]

I know this may sound dumb, but how do you train to failure? Can somone give me an example of this, or how do you not train 2 failure?

[The_Jarhead]

When you cannot lift anymore, you try for one more rep and fail. That is failure, kind of simple really.

An example of not lifting to failure is when you read a work out split that says do 3 sets of bench press for 10 reps. You load up and do 10 reps. You could have done more but you stopped at 10 because that is what the split said to do.

Many beginning bodybuilders do not understand that lifting in the 10 rep range means you hit failure at 10 and can’t do any more.

[Stonecold54]

Originally posted by The_Jarhead
When you cannot lift anymore, you try for one more rep and fail. That is failure, kind of simple really.

An example of not lifting to failure is when you read a work out split that says do 3 sets of bench press for 10 reps. You load up and do 10 reps. You could have done more but you stopped at 10 because that is what the split said to do.

Many beginning bodybuilders do not understand that lifting in the 10 rep range means you hit failure at 10 and can’t do any more.

also in the definition of failure in reaching momentary and muscular "failure" there should be no jerking or using momentum either to get the weight up.

[woodard]

There is also a huge difference between momentary muscle failure and total muscle failure. I dont know that one could actually reach total muscle failure. Momentary means at that exact moment you can no long perform the exercise, i.e. push the bar to full extension on the bench. Howerver, if you racked the weight and waitied 10 seconds you might be able to complete 1 more rep. I for one feel that drop sets really put you closer to "total" failure than anything. Just my opinion though.

[DJ TurboSexy]

It kind of sucks when you don't have a spotter for the bench press because you can't go to failure or else you'll be taking a dirt nap.

[Stonecold54]

Originally posted by woodard
There is also a huge difference between momentary muscle failure and total muscle failure. I dont know that one could actually reach total muscle failure. Momentary means at that exact moment you can no long perform the exercise, i.e. push the bar to full extension on the bench. Howerver, if you racked the weight and waitied 10 seconds you might be able to complete 1 more rep. I for one feel that drop sets really put you closer to "total" failure than anything. Just my opinion though.

that would happen all day. the muscular system regenerates ATP very quickly that is why you are able to do another rep after waiting a bit. in both scenarios you listed failure is achieved but with a drop set you are getting deeper inroad to recovery because you are performing more sets. that is a good intensity variable but must be used sparingly in training lest it lead to overtraining.

[D Animal]

So, do you all think its good 2 train to faliure or not?

[ski]

Train by going a rep or two short of failure most of the time,except for your very heaviest sets.In the immortal words of Lee Haney "Stimulate don`t annihalate" !!

[woodard]

Originally posted by stonecold54
that would happen all day. the muscular system regenerates ATP very quickly that is why you are able to do another rep after waiting a bit. in both scenarios you listed failure is achieved but with a drop set you are getting deeper inroad to recovery because you are performing more sets. that is a good intensity variable but must be used sparingly in training lest it lead to overtraining.

Yes training to failure, and especially with drop sets every day is not a good idea. Overtraining and injury lie ahead if you do it all the time. If I am at a sticking point or if I am feeling "good" that day then I will employ the drop sets. However, I dont do a drop set for a single bodypart more than every 3-4 weeks.

[JuicedBeachBum]

Instead of going until failure, go way beyond. After you've hit failure, pound out a couple of forced reps, then do a drop set. Take a weight where you might only be able to do a few reps, and then only do 1-2 reps, put the weight down for 6-10 seconds, and do another 1-2 reps, for a total of 10-12 reps. Do negatives when you can't even lift the weight, and need a spotter for the positive lift. No you've begun High Intensity Training, and can truly be massive.

BTW, if you do greatly increase the Intensity, make sure you greatly decrease the total # of sets.

[New_Mass]

Originally posted by JuicedBeachBum
Instead of going until failure, go way beyond. After you've hit failure, pound out a couple of forced reps, then do a drop set. Take a weight where you might only be able to do a few reps, and then only do 1-2 reps, put the weight down for 6-10 seconds, and do another 1-2 reps, for a total of 10-12 reps. Do negatives when you can't even lift the weight, and need a spotter for the positive lift. No you've begun High Intensity Training, and can truly be massive.

BTW, if you do greatly increase the Intensity, make sure you greatly decrease the total # of sets.

:agree: only if your serious, training to failure, no question!

[grifilken]

Originally posted by DJ TurboSexy
It kind of sucks when you don't have a spotter for the bench press because you can't go to failure or else you'll be taking a dirt nap.

yeah that does suck...but is it good to do negatives (on the last two reps of every set you go down really slow and you get help coming up), because some people say they are good and some people say they don't do nothing