[quote]Todd S. wrote:
I don’t know if I understand better or am more confused… Thanks for the replies…
I have always use a pyrmid setup… I would be near failure on all the sets. I am thinking of trying Chad’s 10x3 and 4x6 work out. So for this I should pick a weight I can do fairly easily for the first group of set? Then struggle slightly on the last set?
Next… Isn’t doing eccentric workouts in excess of your 1RM, in effect lifting beyond failure?? It would seem that the two go against each other.
Sorry for all the questions but this site is just blowing my mind. Hopefully it will help me blow my muscles as well… lol.
Todd[/quote]
All the definitions given are good ones.
Let me add my $.02…
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Strictly speaking failure is the defined as reaching a point where you can no longer complete the next repitition with good (not perfect) form.
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In other words if you are benching 225 and going for 10 reps and on the 10th rep your spotter has to help push you through a rep. You have trained beyond failure.
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To train to/beyond or not to train to/beyond…I believe the number one reason people don’t make progress in the gym is they are lazy, don’t like pain, and are unwilling to push themselves. Sure you can use perfect form and no assistance and get stronger…but that works for almost no one.
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My opinion is that if you don’t have 4 or 5 sets in your workout where you push yourself to the brink you aren’t WORKING OUT. So I say train to and beyond failure…for bench press this means get a spotter and go down for another rep after you can’t finish a rep…for curls this means throw a LITTLE back into getting 1 more rep (or have a partner give you a finger).
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The best test to determine if your workout is working is: DO YOU HAVE A PUMP. If you do, whatever you are doing is working, if you don’t it’s time to change things (Sets, Reps, Weights, Movements) a bit.
So don’t worry about training to failure or periodization or other mumbo jumbo buzz words…just go to the gym and work harr…believe me you are stronger than your brain will let you think…your brain is like the governor on a car that won’t allow it to go past a certain speed, your brain doesn’t want you to lift weights that are at it’s capacity, so when you push yourself your brain makes connections with your muscles that allow you to use them in a way that promotes hypertrophy.