Explain Lifting to Failure To Me

gdunn55

I guess I'm a dounce. My only weight lifting experience comes from High School when I power lifted and played football. I see so many here saying you need to lift heavy and lift to failure and it builds muscle mass.

So explain how that works to me if you don't mind.

gdunn55

Bump

myofibril

Not going to try and reinvent the wheel here:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/354095-what-are-failure-reps/

gdunn55

Not going to try and reinvent the wheel here:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/354095-what-are-failure-reps/

All I need is a point in the right direction to wrap my mind around it. Thanks.

myofibril

I should add that if you are new to lifting then lifting to something approaching technical failure (being unable to perform a rep with good form) though not necessarily going all the way there is a good idea.

You don't have to pound a muscle to paste to prompt growth.

gdunn55

I'm not exactly new to it.. Just curious about the failure. I lift weights and when it's not tough anymore, I bump up weight to where it's tough. I saw where some do 4 sets of 5 or until failure and was curious.

myofibril

I'm not exactly new to it.. Just curious about the failure. I lift weights and when it's not tough anymore, I bump up weight to where it's tough. I saw where some do 4 sets of 5 or until failure and was curious.

Seems like you have the right mindset.You need to progressively overload the muscle so yeah if it is not challenging then bump up the weight.

Good luck dude.

kealambert

sounds like you got the right answer. I always interpreted that as lift until you can't lift anymore. basically, lifting to challenge your muscles, rather than to build a resistance to the weight.

albinogorilla

you should fail on your last rep........as in physically cannot do another, obviously safer with a spotter, or dumbbells............

forced reps would be going PAST failure, with assistance...........

Matt_Wild

Failure to me is when I can no longer lift a weight with form, not that I cannot lift one more rep. The latter is asking for injury and is dangerous without a competent spotter.

bizco

Lifting to failure means you couldn't possibly finish another rep at the current weight while maintaining good form.

If your form breaks down by 10% or more from ideal technical form, STOP, and lighten the load.