Weight Lifting Programs - Taking A Second Look At Training to Failure

Weight Lifting Programs - Taking A Second Look At Training to Failure

You have probably heard the term training to failure if you've spent any time in the body building or weightlifting worlds. Simply put, training to failure means that you perform a weightlifting exercise until your muscle gives way and cannot perform another repetition. This concept has been labeled by many as the fundamental law of bodybuilding. However, it's worth taking a second look at this popular technique.

Not every trainer believes that training to failure is the best way to go. Some trainers tell us that training to failure on a consistent basis can put too much strain on your body. In fact, it's important to realize that your muscles are not the only body parts that need to recover after a heavy training session. Your nervous system and immune systems actually take longer to recover from the workouts. Even your muscles, which recover more quickly, may not be ready if you return to your training regimen too soon.

If you understand the principles of muscle growth, then you know why it is important to allow your muscles to recover. When a person challenges his muscles by lifting weights, the body will build muscle bigger and stronger than it was before. However, the actual growth of the muscle will occur during your resting phase. According to many trainers, training to failure may actually make recovery more difficult and thus limit your progress in the gym. If you can't lift a little bit more each workout, you may need to take a long hard look at your recovery methods.

So should you train to failure? That is ultimately a personal decision, but you would do well to learn as much as possible before making a choice. One alternative is to train to failure in the beginning so you can learn your limits. Otherwise, it may be difficult to know how hard to push yourself. After this, you can then train just shy of failure, with the goal of progressing gradually during each workout.
If you would like to learn more about how to build lean muscle, visit Jon Cardozo's Web site at http://maximum-muscle-gain.com Learn the secrets to building a muscular physique and avoid the myths of the bodybuilding industry. Brought to you by Jcardozium.