Training to failure..

[Lordofthewhales]

What's your guys opinion on training to failure each set? So example my upper chest lags so I start off with that and will go to failure at 135,145,165,155 incline bench. High reps work best for me rather than heavy. But to failure each set? Feels bad in a good way afterwards.. All opinions welcome

LOTW

 

[Voltrader]

The only way to go IMO especially when you looking to gain muscle. The only time I don't is during HST cutting time but that does not necessarily mean I am not going to failure either. I think some days because of caloric and carb restriction I just don't have what it takes. I am to the point reps don't even matter lighter weight fine push til you cant....heavier fine push til you can't. Keep it up.

 

[kaoticsolja]

I use the same kinda pyramid to failure... 20x135 to warm up... Then 165 to failure...185..205....push out as many at 225 then back down.... All to failure back at 135...then do a burn out at 135

 

[JackC4]

I've never tried it on every set, usually on the last set of an exercise.
But I'm always wanting to switch it up.

 

[alphastrength50]

train to failure but also make sure you alternate w heavy days to shock and stimulate growth

 

[Bucky]

When I started lifting, I trained to failure on almost every set except warm-up. I had good gains even when just natty. Now I read "training to failure is training for failure" and stuff like that. I don't train to failure every set anymore due to this philosophy, but I train to failure on the last set. Maybe I should go back to failure on every set and work with lower weight for a while and see how that goes.

 

[Thickneck]

Train to failure on every sets besides warm ups or you are wasting your time imo.

 

[dper726]

Trained to failure when I leaned before to a successful figure. honestly anyway you shock your body after a long period exposed to a similar routine will lead to hypertrophy. But in my opinion training to failure cannot be done for long durations in your routine.

 

[Millard]

Progressive overload more important than training to failure.

 

[dper726]

Progressive overload more important than training to failure.

I think there is better benefit in the long run too approaching this method

 

[MANWHORE]

Training to failure is different for everyone..

Alot of guys consider it stopped when another
full rep can't be performed.. That's easy..

I pushed until I couldn't perform another concentric rep,
then keep pushing until it started to fall, then let it fall as slow as possible..

That's very hard way and I don't think that way works as good, for size, as volume does ...

More work, equals more size... 200 pushups a week will build size,
then take it to 300 pushups a week even more then 4000 and so on..

When I trained to failure.. My Way.. I got strength fast but not much size

 

[dper726]

Training to failure is different for everyone..

Alot of guys consider it stopped when another
full rep can't be performed.. That's easy..

I pushed until I couldn't perform another concentric rep,
then keep pushing until it started to fall, then let it fall as slow as possible..

That's very hard way and I don't think that way works as good, for size, as volume does ...

More work, equals more size... 200 pushups a week will build size,
then take it to 300 pushups a week even more then 4000 and so on..

When I trained to failure.. My Way.. I got strength fast but not much size

The body is an assortment of puzzle pieces!

 

[MANWHORE]

.. I am now training the muscle and not the nervous system..
It's working pretty good

 

[Bucky]

.. I am now training the muscle and not the nervous system..
It's working pretty good

How so?

 

[MANWHORE]

lighter weight, feeling the muscle as it's working
instead of just counting reps... I don't count reps a lot, anyway

 

[weighted chinup]

Training to failure is different for everyone..

Alot of guys consider it stopped when another
full rep can't be performed.. That's easy..

I pushed until I couldn't perform another concentric rep,
then keep pushing until it started to fall, then let it fall as slow as possible..

That's very hard way and I don't think that way works as good, for size, as volume does ...

More work, equals more size... 200 pushups a week will build size,
then take it to 300 pushups a week even more then 4000 and so on..

When I trained to failure.. My Way.. I got strength fast but not much size

I agree with what you said about doing more work, In my experiences increases in weight or volume facilitates more results then bringing sets really close to failure.

I still believe in bringing sets as close to failure as possible though, but not nearly as intensely as you described in your post, but I do think progressive overloading weight / increasing volume plays a bigger role than balls to the wall intensity.

Different for everyone I suppose.

 

[skywalk]

not everyone can train to failure. It really depends on the body type.

• Ectomorphs and small-boned endomorphs do not respond well to high intensity, infrequent training routines that involve regular training to failure. For them, the failure effort imposes an extended period of neuromuscular system inhibition and recovery. In addition, the muscle growth stimulus that they receive from such training is either insufficient to produce significant growth during the extended recovery period or it is offset by other factors such as excessive muscle damage and consequent degradation, and higher resting cortisol levels. (Prolonged excessive training to failure often causes adrenal insufficiency in these types of trainees.) Additionally, the less robust joint structures of small-boned individuals do not tolerate heavy loading as well as larger boned individuals. Small-boned trainees may gain strength, initially, with such training routines, but do not typically gain much muscle size. For these individuals, training to failure must be used sparingly, on higher rep sets only, or on sets of less stressful exercises (i.e. isolation exercises).
• Mesomorphs and large-boned endomorphs, on the other hand, often react well to heavy training to failure. For them, training to failure produces a sufficient growth stimulus to "carry" them through the recovery periods of both the nervous system and the connective tissues/joint capsules, and to overcome any increases in catabolic hormone levels. And for mesomorphs who possess above average nervous system recovery abilities and particularly robust joint structures, these recovery periods may not be signifcantly extended. For these people, training to failure regularly may be the optimal choice. It should be noted however, that such individuals are typically those considered to be very gifted for bodybuilding.

more info here http://www.weightrainer.net/training/failure.html

 

[Lordofthewhales]

not everyone can train to failure. It really depends on the body type.

• Ectomorphs and small-boned endomorphs do not respond well to high intensity, infrequent training routines that involve regular training to failure. For them, the failure effort imposes an extended period of neuromuscular system inhibition and recovery. In addition, the muscle growth stimulus that they receive from such training is either insufficient to produce significant growth during the extended recovery period or it is offset by other factors such as excessive muscle damage and consequent degradation, and higher resting cortisol levels. (Prolonged excessive training to failure often causes adrenal insufficiency in these types of trainees.) Additionally, the less robust joint structures of small-boned individuals do not tolerate heavy loading as well as larger boned individuals. Small-boned trainees may gain strength, initially, with such training routines, but do not typically gain much muscle size. For these individuals, training to failure must be used sparingly, on higher rep sets only, or on sets of less stressful exercises (i.e. isolation exercises).
• Mesomorphs and large-boned endomorphs, on the other hand, often react well to heavy training to failure. For them, training to failure produces a sufficient growth stimulus to "carry" them through the recovery periods of both the nervous system and the connective tissues/joint capsules, and to overcome any increases in catabolic hormone levels. And for mesomorphs who possess above average nervous system recovery abilities and particularly robust joint structures, these recovery periods may not be signifcantly extended. For these people, training to failure regularly may be the optimal choice. It should be noted however, that such individuals are typically those considered to be very gifted for bodybuilding.

more info here http://www.weightrainer.net/training/failure.html

Being an "ectomorph" I tend to agree with this, but what about training to failure on higher repped sets? Not as heavy but still to failure... Would that be a median between the to? I've noticed if I squat heavy I may be sore as fuck for a couple days but I don't seem to grow so I like to pyramid set such as 12,8,5,8, then like a set of 20 really light and really slow to "feel the burn" so to speak

 

[dper726]

lighter weight, feeling the muscle as it's working
instead of just counting reps... I don't count reps a lot, anyway

The biggest mistake in bodybuilding that most commit to is stopping at a fixed number.

 

[skywalk]

Being an "ectomorph" I tend to agree with this, but what about training to failure on higher repped sets? Not as heavy but still to failure... Would that be a median between the to? I've noticed if I squat heavy I may be sore as fuck for a couple days but I don't seem to grow so I like to pyramid set such as 12,8,5,8, then like a set of 20 really light and really slow to "feel the burn" so to speak

I do that too....at the end of my sets, i'll do a drop set or 2 with really light weights and squeeeeeze the muscle close to, or to failure, or if the pump stops me. I find that this doesnt overtrain me as much as heavy ass weights to failure does, so I guess the strain on the CNS isn't as bad if you go damn light to failure.