Heavy, Reps, or to Failure which do you like best and why?

[Miezko]

I do all three, but heavy days are definitely my favorite, what's yours?

Heavy

Reps

To Failure

[redeyemindtricks]

ahah "favorite" I kinda like whatever I didn't do last time, lol.

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By "reps" I assume yr talking about... a glycogen-depletion workout, or something along those lines? (like, 4-6 sets of 12-20 reps per major body part, at about 50% 1RM... the kind of workout you'd do right before diving into a low-carb phase)
That would have to be my least favorite type of workout, but, the actual feeling of total-body glycogen depletion is pretty cool. It's like... walking on clouds, or some shit ahahah

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"Heavy" -- by which I presume you mean 3-5 rep sets, for strength work -- is probably the most fun DURING the actual lifting... but, it's the most disappointing AFTER the lifting.

This is the only one of these workouts that *doesn't* leave me pooped and exhausted afterward. I mean, I get it -- it's not *supposed* to do that -- but, still, it always feels like I underachieved on that day, hahah. I usually have to go run some stairs or something, just to get the psychological sense of having "accomplished" something.
Stupid, I know.

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Remember: Don't lift to failure... lift to success!
bahahaha

[Miezko]

Yep, exactly what I mean :)

[Miezko]

I always feel like going to failure builds stamina, but I don't know if that's true. Do you know?

[Miezko]

I was taught by an ex-con, I don't know if it was, you know, scientific, but I've always gotten good results.

[redeyemindtricks]

Have you ever tried replacing one of the "failure" days with sets that consist purely of negatives?

If not, you should try it -- it'll give a nice boost to yr training. Also, you can do sets of negatives at weights greater than 1rm, which (considering yr preference for "heavy" day) will probably add a psychological assist, too.

You'll be sore af afterward, though. Don't do it the day before going out, hahah.

[Miezko]

I'll try it :)

[redeyemindtricks]

"I always feel like going to failure builds stamina, but I don't know if that's true."

^^ define "stamina" -- that's a highly ambiguous word. What kind of "stamina" are you after here?

[Miezko]

Like, you can go longer, I don't know if that helps, but I'm not really sure how else to describe it.

[redeyemindtricks]

Well, that's a matter of pushing out the threshold of glycogen depletion -- basically, the analogy of raising yr lactate threshold for endurance athletes.

If you've ever run the 400 meters, then, just do the same thing with the weights that you'd do on the track. Not to failure, but, *damn* close... with short rest and all that.

If not, then, the Tabata protocol is a pretty good capsule summary of how to do this. Read up on that.

[Smmyskittles]

I don't really like doing to failure. It feels great, yes. But, it makes me feel exhausted. Last time I did it, I took a 3 hour nap.

I prefer reps. Heavy is pretty much when/if I get bored of my reps.

[Polocrew]

I train more athletism than aesthetic altho they are just bonus and I am aiming at maximum strength more now So I only do heavy days OP but in 6-8 rep range on push/pull/legs/rest/repeat

For explosive and agile strength, I'd train differently and I don't train how I like lol I train for what I like

[Thisperson98]

It is better to do more reps with less weight then less reps with more weight.

[anonman32]

depends on what you are trying to achieve, it can be calculated though.

[Thisperson98]

@anonman32 I prefer to be strong then to have big arms.

[anonman32]

i like to change it up after 2 months or 3 months depending on where i want to go.

[Miezko]

I prefer to have it all.

[Miezko]

@anonman32 I rotate chest heavy, next time I do chest I do reps, next time I do to failure, than superset, than repeat.

[Thisperson98]

Why would you want to do it until you fail. You can hurt yourself.

[anonman32]

i see.

[anonman32]

occasionally i train to failure, until my muscle can't contract because it is saturated with lactic acid. i dont do this every time though.

[Miezko]

To be honest, I go to failure mainly because it's the way I was taught, and my bodies always responded well to it. The science part I really don't know. The guy who taught me was an old (like 50 when I was 20) ex-con. It works for me though.

[anonman32]

my body responds well to it too. thats the most important part.

[Barrabus_the_Free]

Depends on what I'm after. While cutting, usually morecreps less weight. While bulking, it's the opposite. Lately I've been going to failure on some muscles, light weight high reps on others.

[Other_Tommy_Wiseau]

I don't do to failure. Or at least I combine it with heavy. I like reps cause it's better for cutting.

[Marstalk]

I try to stick to a 3 x 5 rule per set or body part.

[anonman32]

depends on what i am after.

[carinerose]

The feeling I have after reps day is the best