Failure on every set necessary?

[jerume]

For the last 4 months i have been training to failure on every set, but i think it has its downfalls! For example, back and bi's workout: 12 total sets, try and keep to 12-8 reps, but when trying for failure rep count is quite hard to keep to a specific bracket, 32 kg db row 1st set, 14 reps to failure, 33.75kg db row 2nd set 9 reps to failure, 35kg db row 3rd set 6 reps to failure.

Goin to failure on every set seems very hard to make good strength gains as after the first exercise, that certain bodypart is so exausted that its hard to make gains on the following exercises.

I personally would like to go back to exercising at 12,10, and 5-8 reps on final set, and only go to failure on the final set. Imho i find this way to be greater for strength gains on all exercises. After 4 months of failure on every set i have gained 2.5kgs of lean body mass but little strength, also i have a great diet, sleep 8 hours a night and supplement with opti-men, antioxidants and vitamin c, yet ive had the cold 3 times in 4 months!

Im on a 4 day split(60-80 min workouts)and think going to failure on every set leads to overtaining and immune system is hence depleted.

Would love to hear what u think of this topic and what u prefer?

Failure on every set or on last set?

[tgzerozone]

I want to agree with you, but I don't know enough. lol.

[PeterDolan]

If it ain't broke, step the f*ck away and don't even think about fixing it! Your sickness is more than likely linked to being around other sick people

[Chemo]

Maybe warm up and push some heavier weights overall? rather than failing on all sets?

For myself, first sets are warms ups, then I pyramid weights up, gauging what sort of weight im up to that specific day, until I'm doing 6-8 reps and go until I fail once or twice. Maybe drop weights/forced reps and fail at a lower weight, to really overwork the muscle.

IMO save your energy for failing on the heavier sets, and get more work done under a heavier load and a higher intensity.

Good luck

[jerume]

Maybe warm up and push some heavier weights overall? rather than failing on all sets?

For myself, first sets are warms ups, then I pyramid weights up, gauging what sort of weight im up to that specific day, until I'm doing 6-8 reps and go until I fail once or twice. Maybe drop weights/forced reps and fail at a lower weight, to really overwork the muscle.

IMO save your energy for failing on the heavier sets, and get more work done under a heavier load and a higher intensity.

Good luck

I was doing your way 4 months ago and i prefer it! Doiing 12-8 reps, first set is going to 12,80 % intensity,while being able to do another 3-4 reps with the same weight if i was going to failure. Next set, increase the weight, aim for 10 reps, 90% intensity, maybe 1-2 reps still in the tank with the same weight. Final set, increase weight,6-8 reps to total failure.

I prefer pyramid type training where the final set it failure,normally do a dropset on the final exercise per bodypart.

Do u think not going to failure each set(only the final) would stimulate muscle growth as much as failure on every set?

If it ain't broke, step the f*ck away and don't even think about fixing it! Your sickness is more than likely linked to being around other sick people

Funny thing is i havent been around anyone who is sick, my apprentice has kids who have been sick, but apart from that i have no idea. Normally happens after a heavy weight sessions, the term overtraining gets mentioned too often, but i think in this case it might be.

[Chemo]

Do u think not going to failure each set(only the final) would stimulate muscle growth as much as failure on every set?

Im not sure, it might do? But at some stage your going to need to acquire some more strength to keep those gains coming. Strength is a great way to measure improvement and lean tissue gains. More muscle = more contractile force = more strength.

Dont limit yourself to failing on just the last set though man, get a spotter and fail on a few for sure. The main thing I'm getting at is that working at a higher intensity and moving great loads will mean greater adaptation.

Wasting energy failing on warm up sets seems inefficient.

[greemah]

You aren't supposed to go to absolute failure on every set, it's not necessary for gains and it won't work well for long

[HarryB]

I don't get how you can work to failure and do multiple sets, I mean real failure. I guess if you are doing isolation type exercises. I guess it comes down to what you define as failure.

At any rate training is learning and you seem to be working out what works best for you.

[jerume]

I don't get how you can work to failure and do multiple sets, I mean real failure. I guess if you are doing isolation type exercises. I guess it comes down to what you define as failure.

At any rate training is learning and you seem to be working out what works best for you.

All my workouts are with db's and bb's only, and 90% compound, i dont see the point in multiple isolation exercises.

My definition of failure is not being able to do another rep with your own strength( unassisted), i dont believe in failure where a spotter is required to do another rep, unless u are doing the rep i dont see the point in having a helping hand. I used to see guys doing another 1 or 2 reps where their spotter is doing most ofthe work!

I workout alone in my own garage setup which ive built up over the years, i dont have a spotter, which many of u will say is unsafe, lucky i have a squat rack and dont do bb bench, only db, so when i reach failure i can drop the weightwithout worrying im gonna take someones toes off! :pfft: . I have been watching alot of twin muscle workouts channel n youtube, and they do every set to failure. Its very interesting hearing what all you think.

[two_phat]

I don't get how you can work to failure and do multiple sets, I mean real failure. I guess if you are doing isolation type exercises. I guess it comes down to what you define as failure.

At any rate training is learning and you seem to be working out what works best for you.

All my workouts are with db's and bb's only, and 90% compound, i dont see the point in multiple isolation exercises.

My definition of failure is not being able to do another rep with your own strength( unassisted), i dont believe in failure where a spotter is required to do another rep, unless u are doing the rep i dont see the point in having a helping hand. I used to see guys doing another 1 or 2 reps where their spotter is doing most ofthe work!

I workout alone in my own garage setup which ive built up over the years, i dont have a spotter, which many of u will say is unsafe, lucky i have a squat rack and dont do bb bench, only db, so when i reach failure i can drop the weightwithout worrying im gonna take someones toes off! :pfft: . I have been watching alot of twin muscle workouts channel n youtube, and they do every set to failure. Its very interesting hearing what all you think.

Having a spotter to help you push out an extra couple of reps can be beneficial for strength and muscle growth.

Training to failure definitely does have its benefits. You'll get more hgh and recruit more muscle fibres when training to failure. However, its not really possible to train to failure for every exercise or every workout - it's far too taxing.

There's nothing unsafe about training alone. The most dangerous things in a gym I've seen have all been from spotters doing stupid things.

[severe]

Having a spotter to help you push out an extra couple of reps can be beneficial for strength and muscle growth.

+1. If they can spot properly. Made the difference to my training, when I thought I had plateued.

[Riccardo]

Jesus going to failure on every set? That's just counter productive. Its about muscle stimulation not annihilation. Work up to a heavy working set on each exercise and go to failure on that.

[jerume]

Yeah imho spotters do more harm than good most times,i have been watching quite abit if the hodge twins youtube channel, i wanted to change up my workouts abit and stimulate new growth by failure on every set. But what ive learned is my strength has suffered, after a few sets of a certain bodypart im knackered, and other exercises suffer because if this, and like u say.. Muscle growth is about stimulation not annihilation.

[Mrbig]

http://www.professionalmuscle.com/forum ... nners.html

have a read answers most of your questions