Thread: Max out all the time

Absolutely not.

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

Absolutely not.

Why?

Overtraining, and there is a laundry list of symptoms with overtraining that could go on and on, of them, the endocrine response being the worst. Injury is another.

I max out twice per week, but I rotate the exercises weekly or bi-weekly. Otherwise, your central nervous system will become overtrained. As well, speed training is important for hitting maximal weights. Other accessory training is also important at more average repetition ranges. Core training is probably most important of all. Squatting or deadlifting big weights without a conditioned core is just asking for injury.

NOT SAFE at all, eventually age, wear and tear catches up to you. I am not yet 30 and I can feel what I was doing to myself when I was younger, so my training has to change.

I love to train heavy, but maxing out EVERY TIME is just plain stooooopid.

Right now 5-8 reps for my heavy work and occasional sets of tripples is what I am for. I carry a max chart in my logbook to the gym so I know whats going on, I dont have to max out all the time to know what my lifts are.

Definitely not.

i rarely ever max out. i prefer the LIGHT weight, and i'm getting bigger and stronger.

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

Injury is another.

improper form is the main cause of injury. in terms of the stress on tendons, ligaments and muscle from maximum effort lifts there isn't much difference then when doing 3-5 reps as many people do.

too many people associate maxium effort attempts with injury when there is no direct proven correlation...PL's max out all the time with no increased occurence of injury

I would not say all max out "all the time," but certainly low reps are there. Some also do high volume, 8 sets of 3 reps to me is a bit on the crazy side, but some people do it. I just dont think I have the genes to take that kind of beating long term.

Originally Posted by LAM

too many people associate maxium effort attempts with injury when there is no direct proven correlation...PL's max out all the time with no increased occurence of injury

agreed.

I think people connect the two (higher weight=more injury) just b/c you have a bigger chance of getting injured merely b/c heavier weight is harder to handle, although it won't neccesarily happen.

Sorry if this is a dumb question. But what are you guys referring to when you say 'max out'? Do you mean keep lifting heavy until failure for as many sets as possible?

Originally Posted by BulkMeUp

Sorry if this is a dumb question. But what are you guys referring to when you say 'max out'? Do you mean keep lifting heavy until failure for as many sets as possible?

maxing out as in lifting as heavy as possible - such as attempting '1 rep max' ya kno?

Originally Posted by LAM

improper form is the main cause of injury. in terms of the stress on tendons, ligaments and muscle from maximum effort lifts there isn't much difference then when doing 3-5 reps as many people do.

too many people associate maxium effort attempts with injury when there is no direct proven correlation...PL's max out all the time with no increased occurence of injury

I would go so sar as to say that the main cause of improper form in a trained individual who typically has good form would probably be from CNS overload and improper neural firing patterns, which would occur as a result of overtraining. If someone is truly maxing out every time they lifted, they will hurt themselves. Now, I would also go so far as to say that what most people feel is maxing out is not actually maxing out and more of a "what I can handle comfortably for one rep". Truly maxing out would indicate that you failed at a weight slightly above it.

Regardless, if your boy was truly maxing out every time, he would plateau and most likely not surpass that plateau until he cuts back on the intensity, volume, etc.

I maxed out for about 5-6 weeks straight on bench before it started bothering my bones, joints, and gave me an interesting feeling in my left pec that just arose once again last night.

I was doing around 7-10 pounds a week added to my pressing strength.

IF "maxing out" is 1 rep then i never "max out". i always considered maxing out to be like when i do 3-4 reps to failure with the heaviest weight i can move. I have not had an injury as of yet.

Originally Posted by sabre81

IF "maxing out" is 1 rep then i never "max out". i always considered maxing out to be like when i do 3-4 reps to failure with the heaviest weight i can move. I have not had an injury as of yet.

Me to. I never did a 1rep max, ever. I too considered maxing out was going to failure on my last set/reps with the heaviest weight with my pyramid training.

Originally Posted by sabre81

IF "maxing out" is 1 rep then i never "max out". i always considered maxing out to be like when i do 3-4 reps to failure with the heaviest weight i can move. I have not had an injury as of yet.

Thats just "training to failure," maximum weight for a single not really maximum effort for reps