Failure or not?

[littlelouie]

Just curious to see what others think of this. I am always reading and researching for a better workout and more gains as we all are basically. I have looked at a bunch of different routines and some say failure and some say not to failure. If you read HST they preach only failure at the end of every two weeks and 5x5 is only failure on the 2 sets of 8-10.

Not speaking of volume or reps or sets just failure or up to failure and stop. I have have read as long as you push the muscle and hit it more often you do not need failure, failure is for strength and not as much muscle Hypertrophy.

I have been looking into more of a HST style traing but not as strict. I like to hit all Push Muscles on 1 day then a day off and then all Pull muscles then a day off, etc....basically an EOD routine of two different workouts. Hitting the larger muscles with 3-4 sets and the smaller ones with 2 sets. I basically go in and see how I feel and if i feel liek hitting flat bench I will or if flat is taken I will hit incline. I try and pick a weight that is heavy enoug to keep me around 8-10 reps for most muscles except abs/calves/forearms/traps....these I use a little bit higher of around 12-15. I push right up to faliure but do not push it out if I know it is gonna be too much of a struggle. I seem to have less injuries and fuller muscles. My total workout is 15 sets each day and takes around 45 minutes. My off days I do cardio for 20-40 minutes. I also keep a log book and just write down what i do and refer to it as I go but do not go crazy with it. If i do bench and use 275 and rep 8-10 thsi week and it feels good I will stick with it and if it is easier than I woudl like I will raise it up then next WO by 10 pounds or so......

Basically muscle Hypertrophy is achieved thru working out with reasonable weights and good solid form. Muslce strength is achieved thru heavier weights and pushing yourself over that edge and not always with the best of form.

Do you wanna bench 500 pounds and be big or do you want to look like you can bench 500 pounds and look HUGE? Bigger doesn't always mean stronger, just look around your gym next time and look at the biggest baddest mofo in the gym and i bet he is using heavy weight yes, but it is a lot less that he can use if he really wanted to. He can probably bench 500 pounds but he only using 315 to get some quality reps in or he may be able to squat 500 pounds but is only using 275 to get deeper at the bottom and take care of his back and knees.

This is just my thoughts and I am in no way a professional, I do have my CPT and have been traing for years but am not a competitor so rip it apart if you will or add your comments to it.

Thanks for listening!!!!

[littlelouie]

I also wanted to add that I do vary the reps WO to WO just to keep the muscle guessing. And some days I will go to failure and some I will not. If a muscle is lagging I will try and shock it with Negatives or Forced Reps, etc.....just gotta watch my body and see what is growing and what isn't.

I also want to not that this is more of a hybrid HIT/Volume routine IMO. I am a huge advocate for swithing things up. I hate going to the gym and knowing I have to do these exercises and I have to beat this weight. It gets old and my workouts get stale really fast. I like to vary things to keep it fresh and keep me wanting to go back. I noticed on set routines my gains were all at the beginning cause it was fresh and new but I woudl start to get bored and hate going, stop eating, bad sleep cause I was worried and there goes my gains.

Like I said before I do keep a log book to see what is working and what isn't and for a quick guide to weight and reps but it is not a set thing.

This works well for me:boing:

[samax64]

I switch up to... but I will take it to almost falure every time but get it back on pins with no assist

[TRANSFAT]

failure buddy.

[littlelouie]

Originally Posted by samax64

I switch up to... but I will take it to almost falure every time but get it back on pins with no assist

Exactly....that is what i was trying to say.

[samax64]

Originally Posted by TRANSFAT

failure buddy.

OK should have hit spell check LOL!!

[liftsiron]

Originally Posted by samax64

I switch up to... but I will take it to almost falure every time but get it back on pins with no assist

Pretty much the way that I train. I never do forced reps or even supersets any longer. I got stronger faster when I discontinued all that bullshit.

[samax64]

I think that last bust ass rep dose the most you are just spent after that one and loving it...

[littlelouie]

Originally Posted by liftsiron

Pretty much the way that I train. I never do forced reps or even supersets any longer. I got stronger faster when I discontinued all that bullshit.

Yeah I kept getting injuries and worn out from it. I just do my set up to failure and rack it. I seem to get better pumps and A LOT LESS injuries! The older I get the harder it is to heal from that shit.

I think as long as you force the muscle to do something it does not do on a regular basis it will grow, it has no choice if you do it and diet the proper way.

[Deacon]

I train to failure or do some of that radical stuff only once a month - otherwise I cant recover fully