Reps Until Failure...?

Baseballkid14 · Post by **Baseballkid14** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:02 pm

I heard that you should always lift until you absolutely cant lift anymore. Go to the most reps you can. Well... should I lift until failur on every set or just the last one? I mean, if I can do 15 chin ups first set then 12 second then maybe 8 third set... should I do that, or just have a set number that challenges me and do it the same for each set... e.g. 10, 10, 10. On the last set, it would be working till complete failure where as on the first example, every one would be complete failure. Which one should I do?

bobbi · Post by **bobbi** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:53 pm

for what it's worth bil and sil are both trainers and they have taught me to do 12 reps three times with each activity. You should be doing between 6-8 activities atleast. By the time you get to your 8th activity you want to have drained your muscles to the point you have a hard time lifting even one.

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:45 pm

bil? sil/ activities????

1 - failure on the last set
2 - set a goal (3 x

and if you get all reps then increase the wt and go again next session

manage fatigue don't seek it, it doesn;t neccssarily mean you've done anything just because you can;t lift arms above your head

bobbi · Post by **bobbi** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:40 am

sorry BIL is brother inlaw and SIL is sister inlaw...activities is different machines or whatever terminology you want to enter there.

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:59 am

don't know why that smiley thing came up but it says :(3x8)

Baseballkid14 · Post by **Baseballkid14** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:19 am

Okay thanks

timtimtimmah19 · Post by **timtimtimmah19** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:18 am

activities is different machines or whatever terminology you want to enter there.

If possible I'd suggest using freeweights instead of machines if that's what you're doing right now

Packard · Post by **Packard** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:51 am

For strength training I don't prescribe to work to failure for any set. It is difficult to decide if you failed or failed to try hard enough. Training to failure is to get used to failing--a bad mindset in lifting (or life).

I suggest that you evaluate your workout at the end of each series of sets and decide what you will do for the next workout based on your current workout.

In this way you will get a measured and steady progressive result. You will (if you decide wisely) just finish each set on your next workout.

If you train hard when feel good, then you are just borrowing against your next workout. It is better to budget your workouts so that the next one is not bankrupt.