I always go to failure BRO

[TheLegoFreak]

I train to failure because failure is all I know

[Maddogunderline]

I do everything to failure. Tren massively helps me do it. Exercises, relationships, kidneys. I take them all to failure, every time.

[edmondprice]

I do 1 rep to failure then leave the gym.

[FRDDY]

I always train to what I think is failure, that way sometimes I actually reach it and sometimes I'm 1-2 RIR. It's easier for me to detect failure doing bicep curls than doing leg press xd.

[aviadglove]

Most people can’t judge what “shy of failure” accurately is, so it makes more sense to go to failure because it’s a sure thing every time.

[kristijan]

I train to failure because I can't really guess how close I am. Is it 1 rep or is it 5?
Also I like to feel the pain, makes me forget about how much i hate myself.

[JoshBenware]

The only people who know 100% how hard they're training are the ones who train to absolute failure.

[Phobos]

Understood. Message received, but I'm sure you'll understand that I'm still going to go to failure every time. I'm more scared of not pushing myself hard enough, than too much. As you always say "if it works for you, right answer."

Edit: fixed verbage

[corenko]

I do understand science and stuff but I won't leave 3 reps in reserve EVER

[rocksmo]

Most people dont rly know how hard it is to go to muscular failure. Most of the time, we could to more reps if someone held a gun to our head. If you plan to leave 3 reps in reserve, you might actually leave 5.

[jakel]

The only "study" I trust is the one I do myself. I have trained to both failure and leaving a rep or 2 in the tank. I always get better results with training to failure. If you leave reps out there how are you stressing the body enough to respond with muscle growth.

[DemetriusLaquanFauci]

Geoffrey Verity Schofield enters the chat

[steelparagon]

Yeah I don’t believe every study shows stopping shy of failure is better…
That’s pretty bold thing to say.
Leaving reps in reserve is OKAY! But might cause you to need more volume overall

[einarrjamesson]

Every set of every exercise for every gym day goes to failure or as close as I can manage.

[robertadams]

A couple of questions, Doc
1) how are we defining failure?
2) how does training not-to-failure provide better stimulus than trading to failure?
3) how do we know what 1-3 reps shy of failure is actually that close to failure?

[MennoWielenga]

I train with 0 RIR every set. Gained 28 pounds in 1 year. I think training to failure is extremely effective for hypertrophy. But if you want to get stronger i would leave 2 reps in the tank every set when you doing pyramid.

[michaelmantinaos]

I nearly always go to failure on every set I know i probably shouldn’t but it’s like i just can’t help it always trained like that and I always handle it i don’t burn out

[n_s_]

Too many assumptions, failure is subjective, quality of the form, speed of the reps, type of exercise. I believe Sean Nalewanji (hope I wrote it right), said it best, all types of training work if they follow proper form, rest, nutrition and progressive overload.

[coolgainz]

Dr Mike is spot on! When I train to failure I don’t do it in every set I do it at the last time and I think it’s important that you should progress the intensity throughout your sets so you won’t build up fatigue and all of a sudden you can’t push as hard

[ThaDonJsuan]

Best way to do it is to choose a working weight and working # of reps. So say 60lbs at 10 reps with 3 sets with 120s rest. The 10th rep on the 3rd set should be the 'last rep' at failure. Then modulate weight from there from session to session.