Do you really go to FAILURE??

[rburton]

Training to failure is the only true way to determine intensity, i.e., training to failure = 100% intensity; not training to failure < 100% intensity.

I, too, train to failure using an abbreviated routine. On occasion, I will incorporate static contraction and negative training at the end of a set, but I overtrain very easily with these techniques.

 

[Arnold]

Originally posted by rburton
Training to failure is the only way to truly determine intensity, i.e., training to failure = 100% intensity; not training to failure < 100% intensity.

Not sure I agree with that, I think I can train with 100% "intensity" without going to complete failure.

 

[gopro]

Well, that all depends on how YOU define intensity Prince.

 

[Arnold]

Originally posted by gopro
Well, that all depends on how YOU define intensity Prince.

that's just it, there are many ways that you can train with maximum intensity....

I could run a 100 yard sprint going all out as fast as I can possibly run and I would say I ran that 100 yards with "maximum intensity", but that does not mean I ran until my leg muscles reached complete failure and I fell over.

 

[gr81]

I totally agree with Prince on this one, going to failure may indicate reaching maximum intensity, but that doesn't necessarily correlate to not reaching a similar level of intensity if you do NOT hit failure. I suppose it does depend on how intensity is defined but I don't believe it is defined as reaching failure. Failure isn't always the answer, it is a tool to use accordingly IMO, and it is great but I have had just as intense WO not going to "complete" failure necessarily by doing other things.

 

[gopro]

Well, to me, doing a set until the weight will no longer budge is maximum intensity. If I know that I have one iota of strength left to move a weight I have not gone 100% for that set. When I put a weight down after I cannot do another FULL rep, I consider that only about 90% intensity, or a 9 out of 10 set. That said, I consider any work set not taken to at least positive failure a 0 out of 10 set, but that never happens...I don't know how not to go to at least basic failure.

Usually I will only hit that 100% set once or twice during a workout.

 

[rburton]

Originally posted by gopro
Well, to me, doing a set until the weight will no longer budge is maximum intensity. If I know that I have one iota of strength left to move a weight I have not gone 100% for that set. When I put a weight down after I cannot do another FULL rep, I consider that only about 90% intensity, or a 9 out of 10 set. That said, I consider any work set not taken to at least positive failure a 0 out of 10 set, but that never happens...I don't know how not to go to at least basic failure.

Usually I will only hit that 100% set once or twice during a workout.

 

[Arnold]

Originally posted by gr81
I totally agree with Prince on this one, going to failure may indicate reaching maximum intensity, but that doesn't necessarily correlate to not reaching a similar level of intensity if you do NOT hit failure. I suppose it does depend on how intensity is defined but I don't believe it is defined as reaching failure. Failure isn't always the answer, it is a tool to use accordingly IMO, and it is great but I have had just as intense WO not going to "complete" failure necessarily by doing other things.

 

[gopro]

Originally posted by Prince

Boooo...booooo...booooo...

 

[rburton]

Based on the posts, two issues need to be addressed: (1) The definition of intensity; and (2) measuring intensity.

From the literature to which I have been exposed, and from my own experiences, I can offer:

1. Intensity is utilizing the maximum amount of muscular force that is available.

2. Intensity can be measured in only two ways--100% or less than 100%. That is, unless tested in a lab, the only way to gauge intensity is whether one has completed a set to at least positive muscular failure, which would approximate 100% intensity. Anything less than this is practicing less than 100% intensity. To insure 100% intensity, one would have to train to positive, static, and negative failure. For those who train to positive failure regularly, they are unable to train again until several days afterwards. For those who train to static and negative failure, even longer rest is required to insure recovery and growth.

 

[gopro]

Originally posted by rburton
Based on the posts, two issues need to be addressed: (1) The definition of intensity; and (2) measuring intensity.

From the literature to which I have been exposed, and from my own experiences, I can offer:

1. Intensity is utilizing the maximum amount of muscular force that is available.

2. Intensity can be measured in only two ways--100% or less than 100%. That is, unless tested in a lab, the only way to gauge intensity is whether one has completed a set to at least positive muscular failure, which would approximate 100% intensity. Anything less than this is practicing less than 100% intensity. To insure 100% intensity, one would have to train to positive, static, and negative failure. For those who train to positive failure regularly, they are unable to train again until several days afterwards. For those who train to static and negative failure, even longer rest is required to insure recovery and growth.

Intensity is also often measured as percent of 1 rep max on a given lift, but in the world of bodybuilding I think people simply equate the word "intense" with how hard you work in the gym. I guess you can measure intensity on a scale of 1-10 to gauge how hard you work in the gym...for each workout, for each set, or even for each rep...I just know my goal is to attempt to maximize every moment I am in the gym...even between sets, when I mentally prepare for the next. The true failure set that I talked about above is my "overachievement set," going beyond normal failure, and one that I accomplish maybe twice per workout. But like I said...none of my work sets can be anything less than to concentric failure, otherwise the SET was a FAILURE (in my eyes).

 

[JerseyDevil]

Originally posted by gopro
This is why I am a big advocate of pre-exhaust and post-actvation supersets.

After reading some of GoPro's posted workouts, I tried some SHOCK sets. Mine consisted of doing standing cable crossover's then immediately doing barbell incline press. Ouch! 4 supersets of that had my pecs quivering

 

[gopro]

Originally posted by JerseyPaul
After reading some of GoPro's posted workouts, I tried some SHOCK sets. Mine consisted of doing standing cable crossover's then immediately doing barbell incline press. Ouch! 4 supersets of that had my pecs quivering