I have read numerous articles concerning “training to failure.” Some say yes and some say no. I know it’s a personal choice but I’d like some input from some other bodybuilders.
absolutely… most sets.
Fewer total sets, all to positive failure after warm-ups.
I found that what works best (for me) its not thinking about it, i just set a weight/rep goal (to beat my last workout numbers)and try my best do it. When i tried train “not to failure” my effort and intensity end up being too weak, when i tried go to failure it wasnt productive also, because my focus was on getting fatigued not having the job done.
yea how dont you train to failure? i cant imagine going in and being oh i hit 8 reps im done knowing i couldve gotten 4 or 5 more in. that sounds like something someone with a pair of newbalance, socks pulled up pas their shins, and glasses with a digital wrist watch would do.
I don’t do every set but the last one for a specific exercise. I get an awesome pump and I get “look at the freak” looks from people doing their 3x10.
[quote]Joe Joseph wrote:
absolutely… most sets.[/quote]
Correct.
[quote]LiveFromThe781 wrote:
yea how dont you train to failure? i cant imagine going in and being oh i hit 8 reps im done knowing i couldve gotten 4 or 5 more in. that sounds like something someone with a pair of newbalance, socks pulled up pas their shins, and glasses with a digital wrist watch would do.[/quote]
Either that, or a super-hardcore powerlifter, ironically enough.
As a personal trainer, it’s easy for me to tell when a new client has potential and when they’re going to be a stubborn pain in the ass.
The lazy ones never understand the concept of “selecting a weight that you can only do X number of reps with”
They will crank out 12 easy reps with a light weight and then insist that it’s “heavy enough” and “all they can do”, even though they could probably have done 12 more if they really pushed themselves.
They do not understand the concept of going to failure because they have no conception of pushing themselves to the physical edge. It’s very much a mental thing and if you grow up as a fatty, this mentality is pretty much ingrained in your head, I would think…
I would like to show these people a video of a pro bodybuilder doing dropsets so they can see what “going to failure” actually looks like. Problem is, normal people get alienated by that sort of shit.
[quote]Nominal Prospect wrote:
They do not understand the concept of going to failure because they have no conception of pushing themselves to the physical edge. [/quote]
I had a person I experimented with (many years “training”) using rest-pause on Scott curls.
First set to this person’s perception of failure was 12 reps. I allow 15 seconds pass and we try another 2-3 reps only he gets 16 MORE REPS! The 2nd and final rest-pause was IIRC 4-5 reps.
Now who on earth can hit failure at 12, rest 15 seconds and complete another 16 perfect reps if they are truly pushing to the limits? No one.
I only wish there was a BS meter you could hook up to these people.
[quote]Nominal Prospect wrote:
LiveFromThe781 wrote:
yea how dont you train to failure? i cant imagine going in and being oh i hit 8 reps im done knowing i couldve gotten 4 or 5 more in. that sounds like something someone with a pair of newbalance, socks pulled up pas their shins, and glasses with a digital wrist watch would do.
Either that, or a super-hardcore powerlifter, ironically enough.
As a personal trainer, it’s easy for me to tell when a new client has potential and when they’re going to be a stubborn pain in the ass.
The lazy ones never understand the concept of “selecting a weight that you can only do X number of reps with”
They will crank out 12 easy reps with a light weight and then insist that it’s “heavy enough” and “all they can do”, even though they could probably have done 12 more if they really pushed themselves.
They do not understand the concept of going to failure because they have no conception of pushing themselves to the physical edge. It’s very much a mental thing and if you grow up as a fatty, this mentality is pretty much ingrained in your head, I would think…
I would like to show these people a video of a pro bodybuilder doing dropsets so they can see what “going to failure” actually looks like. Problem is, normal people get alienated by that sort of shit.[/quote]
lmaO… you hit the nail on the head!! hahahaa lazy clients are the bain of my working day!
Joe
Yeah, I like to hit failure on nearly every set and then on the last 1-2 sets, go beyond failure w/ drop sets, slow negatives, rest pause, etc.
so lemme guess you guys got into PT thinking you were going to just get guys who were like you and youd be able to have an awesome time getting guys big but in reality you have a bunch of whiny little bitches who are afraid of freeweights and make your day shitty?
well let me ask this, do you at least get enough punani from hot clients to make up for it?
Failure almost always.
But some things like deadlifts I leave some “in the tank”.
[quote]LiveFromThe781 wrote:
yea how dont you train to failure? i cant imagine going in and being oh i hit 8 reps im done knowing i couldve gotten 4 or 5 more in. that sounds like something someone with a pair of newbalance, socks pulled up pas their shins, and glasses with a digital wrist watch would do.[/quote]
That’s hardly what not training to failure is. You should not be more than 1-2 reps from failure on any non warm-up set. I usually train to failure on the last 1-2 sets. Failing on every set hurts my recovery. And doesn’t increase the rate I add muscle anyway, which is a nice, steady rate when on a caloric surplus.
[quote]LiveFromThe781 wrote:
so lemme guess you guys got into PT thinking you were going to just get guys who were like you and youd be able to have an awesome time getting guys big but in reality you have a bunch of whiny little bitches who are afraid of freeweights and make your day shitty?
well let me ask this, do you at least get enough punani from hot clients to make up for it?[/quote]
None of the above. Bad guess.
Really? Not so for me… I do failure on every set, except MAYBE one where i will be able to finish the last rep but i know i would fail on the next.
The others i fail on or go past failure.
If i train not to this level of failure, i could train using 10+ sessions a week regularly. I already do 6-7 sessions a week with my “intensity” and that is my max, but recoverable at this time.
Plus for me, i dont build muscle at a slow steady pace, anabolics or not. I always have built in “spurts”! a month her… then some maintenance, then another month there… as i adapt and grow, then change and wait, then begin to adapt and grow… it really is much more sporadic for me. But i have decided that i do not have the greatest affinity to build muscle (although it will never stop me trying!)
I think you are lucky to be able to grow so well. 
Joe
[quote]Nominal Prospect wrote:
LiveFromThe781 wrote:
yea how dont you train to failure? i cant imagine going in and being oh i hit 8 reps im done knowing i couldve gotten 4 or 5 more in. that sounds like something someone with a pair of newbalance, socks pulled up pas their shins, and glasses with a digital wrist watch would do.
Either that, or a super-hardcore powerlifter, ironically enough.
As a personal trainer, it’s easy for me to tell when a new client has potential and when they’re going to be a stubborn pain in the ass.
The lazy ones never understand the concept of “selecting a weight that you can only do X number of reps with”
They will crank out 12 easy reps with a light weight and then insist that it’s “heavy enough” and “all they can do”, even though they could probably have done 12 more if they really pushed themselves.
They do not understand the concept of going to failure because they have no conception of pushing themselves to the physical edge. It’s very much a mental thing and if you grow up as a fatty, this mentality is pretty much ingrained in your head, I would think…
I would like to show these people a video of a pro bodybuilder doing dropsets so they can see what “going to failure” actually looks like. Problem is, normal people get alienated by that sort of shit.[/quote]
Excellent post. Indeed, most people think they’re pushing 100% effort when they’re really about 35%. It’s all about mentality. If you are a competitive person (even just within your own head) then you will get the concept of pushing as hard as you can whether it’s 20 reps or 3.
I own a gym here in NorCal. I explain to lost members all the time about the concept of having to push 95% on the last rep. They try it one time, actually break out in a sweat, then go back to their 30% effort and wonder why they look the same week after week.
At some point, you can’t help people more than they want to help themselves. When I was a trainer, I was happy with the 3-4 clients who really got it and then I just collected a check with a smile with the other 10 clients. Sometimes you just have to pay the bills. Hey if a client is a happy customer just going through the motions then I’m a happy trainer doing the same back at them. It’s kinda of a jaded POV, but fuck it - that just drove me to put more into my kick ass clients which is all the more reason they loved me pushing them so hard. It all works out in the end.
[quote]Joe Joseph wrote:
Really? Not so for me… I do failure on every set, except MAYBE one where i will be able to finish the last rep but i know i would fail on the next.
The others i fail on or go past failure.
If i train not to this level of failure, i could train using 10+ sessions a week regularly. I already do 6-7 sessions a week with my “intensity” and that is my max, but recoverable at this time.
Plus for me, i dont build muscle at a slow steady pace, anabolics or not. I always have built in “spurts”! a month her… then some maintenance, then another month there… as i adapt and grow, then change and wait, then begin to adapt and grow… it really is much more sporadic for me. But i have decided that i do not have the greatest affinity to build muscle (although it will never stop me trying!)
I think you are lucky to be able to grow so well.
Joe[/quote]
10+ sessions a week? 7 as it is? What does your training look like? My growth is not always linear either. I just meant that I make steady progress and don’t train to failure every set to do so.
I’ll up my volume and back off on the intensity every so often, but I train to failure and beyond a lot.
I’ve got to admit, I seem to not be sure what everyone means by “training to failure.” Is there an agreed upon definition? Also, what is “positive failure”?
When I train, I normally try to pick a weight and rep range where I’ll be near failure on the last set. Often, I’ll rack it a rep or two early when I’m spent. If I’ve got a bit of energy at the end, I’ll do another rep or two.
Perhaps if I had a training partner or coach to spot, I’d go for that last rep or two when I think I’m spent, but I figure getting injured and being unable to lift for 6months is worse than not getting in that last rep or two. I’m not sure if this is “training to failure” or not.