Is repping to failure good?

[ectomorph37]

I always rep to failure on the last rep of a set, but I'm not seeing the kind of results I would expect. Lately, I've been able to LESS reps! Would it be advisable to actually cut my reps back in order to grow? I've heard it advised both ways, but since my reps are now suffering, I have to ask.

[DougHolland]

I rep to failure on each different exercise. But others believe you should leave a rep or two in the tank.

Back in the 80's we would rep until you could not pick up a toothbrush and touch your head...lol

[Old-Time-Lifter]

Define failure?

[ectomorph37]

I rep to failure on each different exercise. But others believe you should leave a rep or two in the tank.

Back in the 80's we would rep until you could not pick up a toothbrush and touch your head...lol

Has it been working out for you?

[ectomorph37]

Define failure?

The point where you can't do another rep.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

The point where you can't do another rep.

When you 'think' you can't do another rep, or when you actually come to complete failure and the weight comes crashing down on you, or when your buddy thinks you can't get it anymore and helps?

I rarely use a spotter when using a bb so I rarely go to failure on a bb movement. Rather I know my body pretty well and I can judge when I'm at my limit and there I 'generally' stop.

Are you talking about free weights or machines? I go to absolute failure on machines and db's nearly always but rarely with bb's.

There is also that point where you would fail but you cheat to get the rep. I'm not above cheating on some movements but won't on others.

[Caesura75]

I always rep to failure on the last rep of a set, but I'm not seeing the kind of results I would expect. Lately, I've been able to LESS reps! Would it be advisable to actually cut my reps back in order to grow? I've heard it advised both ways, but since my reps are now suffering, I have to ask.

How many reps are you doing per set? If it's high, then it's less surprising that you've stopped making gains.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

How many reps are you doing per set? If it's high, then it's less surprising that you've stopped making gains.

Also what's his training frequency? If you are training to absolute failure you better give yourself extra recovery days.

[ectomorph37]

How many reps are you doing per set? If it's high, then it's less surprising that you've stopped making gains.

On Bench Press, I've been doing 3 sets of 8 reps. I succeeded at that last time, but the following time 4 days later, the second set ended at 7 sets, and the third set at only 6.

Since I pretty much hit failure the first time when I hit the 8 rep mark on the 3rd set, I figured I had come up with a good system and was going to stick with a straight set of 8 reps each. The second time I did it, I was expecting to possibly hit 9 reps. Going backward was really disappointing! The only thing I could think of that I did wrong was going to failure at the end.

[stayfit2008]

you may want to post your workouts,..not enuff info. But as far as failure I dont usually take my sets there. Maybe,..and thats a strong Maybe on one exercise per muscle group. i.e. Chest, ill maybe take the last set of incline bench to a failure rep. I learend theres no real need to go to failure every exercise,..and with this knowledge Ive grown.

[Caesura75]

On Bench Press, I've been doing 3 sets of 8 reps. I succeeded at that last time, but the following time 4 days later, the second set ended at 7 sets, and the third set at only 6.

So there's immediately something to look at. How about you try 3 - 5 reps of heavier weight for the first couple of sets? You should also be resting for longer than 4 days - just because you lifted less, that doesn't mean you've become weaker. You probably just hadn't fully recovered.

[ectomorph37]

Also what's his training frequency? If you are training to absolute failure you better give yourself extra recovery days.

I was doing Bench Press as one in a group of 4 excercises for that day to be done twice a week. This was according to an article in M&F Magazine this month for "Phase 2 for beginners".

[stayfit2008]

I was doing Bench Press as one in a group of 4 excercises for that day to be done twice a week. This was according to an article in M&F Magazine this month for "Phase 2 for beginners".

I never had any luck following these routines.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

I was doing Bench Press as one in a group of 4 excercises for that day to be done twice a week. This was according to an article in M&F Magazine this month for "Phase 2 for beginners".

Please post the workout. Personally I don't follow m&f workouts. Training twice a week can be draining and you'd certainly want to do a heavy/light type of schedule. When I train body parts twice a week I generally use an A and a B workout with entirely different movements in each workout.

[snoack]

Spent most of my life lifting by myself, so I've never been a big believer in going to failure. Still not, like to leave 1 or 2 in the tank.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

Also what was your diet and sleep like in between workouts? You can't out train a bad diet and no sleep.

[whtcoupe]

i feellike i get the best results when i go to failure.

[bigtallox]

Is repping to failure good

Define "good".
Define "failure".

Without those defined, my answer is NO. Even when I was training for a contest with a benching 225 for reps event, I found doing to failure in training did nothing for increasing my number of reps.

[OneSixtyFour]

I was going to failure. But my recovery was sucking.

So now I go to about 1-2 reps before failure. It takes a while to figure out your bodies non failure limits, but you'll start to recognize it.

But nothing wrong with going to failure on a couple of exercises, just make sure it's the very last set.

[ectomorph37]

Define "good".
Define "failure".

Without those defined, my answer is NO. Even when I was training for a contest with a benching 225 for reps event, I found doing to failure in training did nothing for increasing my number of reps.

Good = Beneficial, productive.

Failure = Lifting to the point that you can't do another rep.

[stevepower250]

Repping to failure is fine if that is your preference, some lifters don't feel like they are accomplishing anything if they don't go to failure. If your reps are declining than there is a problem in your recovery, when was your last deload? Repping to failure requires more recovery try these solutions.
1) take a week off when you return your reps should increase if they do than begin deloading every 4-6 weeks.
2) increase your carb intake your glycogen levels could be depleted(are you losing weight)?
3) increase sleep time if possible either get a nap or go to bed earlier of sleep later.
good ;uck

[induced_drag]

I rarely if ever leave a rep on the table. I shoot for 'failure' on almost every set. (failure defined as lifting to the point where I can not do another). I select a weight appropriate to get the rep range I want.

[ectomorph37]

Repping to failure is fine if that is your preference, some lifters don't feel like they are accomplishing anything if they don't go to failure. If your reps are declining than there is a problem in your recovery, when was your last deload? Repping to failure requires more recovery try these solutions.
1) take a week off when you return your reps should increase if they do than begin deloading every 4-6 weeks.
2) increase your carb intake your glycogen levels could be depleted(are you losing weight)?
3) increase sleep time if possible either get a nap or go to bed earlier of sleep later.
good ;uck

I give those things a try. Thanks!

[Killafornia805]

No but negging to failure is good



Lol i never go to failure.. I usually do 6-10 reps depending on exercise

[crupiea]

Define failure?

this.

Next time in the gym try to truely go until you just cant go anymore. by that i mean do your sets, say 3-4 sets hard. after this do as many more sets as you can until you just cant physically pick the thing up anymore. Not just reps but do a set, wait a minute and then do another, like that. Do fewer reps if you have to until you get there.

I would be willing to bet that you are vastly underestimating what your true failure threshold is.

[SleeperService]

According to our S&C coaches at the rugby club you should never lift to failure. However, their focus is very much on strength and power rather than bodybuilding.

[Igmann]

Training to failure means that you fail on the rep as you're performing it, as Mike Mentzer and Arthur Jones defined it many years ago.

[Jrob69]

I go to failure - meaning I cant possibly lift it with correct form with enough weight that allows me to get to aprox 8-12 reps per set. Unless Im doing 5x5 then its enough weight so failure begins on 5th rep on each set, or sometimes sooner.

Meaning on leg days I have to hold railing to get down the stairs
On chest and arm days I cant reach my arm around me to put the seat belt on when I get in my car
On back days I dont have sex in missionary position

Why would you do it any other way? Assuming you are healthy and are looking to grow.

[bigtallox]

Good = Beneficial, productive.

Productive in what way? Building muscle? gaining strength? getting DOMS? "Productive" is vague.

Failure = Lifting to the point that you can't do another rep.

That's also still vague. Positive failure, negative failure,...

IMHO it really depends on the rep range.

[Guinea-pig]

The point where you can't do another rep.

in strick form.