The Workout Thread

[Josh]

Squat until you have a nosebleed or go home.

[Satsuki]

Gotta agree with Mzo...Drew talks like he doesn't understand exactly what "going to failure" is in weightlifting terms.

Now THIS is going to failure on squats!

this reassures me that I am doing things correctly.

[Drewbacca]

Maybe the problem here is what is meant by "failure."

I don't think the unicorn has heard that word before.

215 is quite a bit to squat! You go down until your thighs are parallel to the ground, I assume? Going to failure means you're doing the full range of motion until you either can't complete it and you put the weights down on the squat rack or get help from your spotter. You rest for a minute or two, and recuperate enough that you can do another set of about the same number of reps. Probably a couple less, and usually go on for what, 4 sets of an exercise? Maybe alternate heavy and light weights or up the weights for MaxOT or less weight or whatever method you just read about and think is the way to go. Whatever. It could take 5 reps of a lot of weight or 20 reps of too little, but when you absolutely can't complete the next full motion, that's going to failure.

Not going to failure means you put 215 lbs, squat like what, 15-20 reps and are feeling just fine. You could do a bunch more or add more weight to get your Unbreakable ass to break a sweat, but fuck it! Or you're doing like 5 reps and saying fuck it right away, even though you could go to 10 or 15. Either way it doesn't make a lot of sense. It doesn't save you a lot of time and is actually the most important part of the exercise. That's not going to failure.

I think you are going to failure, but in your head maybe it means something else. That's my best guess that still lets me think you're not an idiot. Doing something is always better than doing nothing so it's not like the biggest waste of time in the universe, but it still doesn't make a lot of sense.

I started off struggling with the bar alone last year as well. Going to failure every set, I managed to add 5 pounds every workout pretty easily, much to my surprise, until my progress slowed down around the 150 lbs mark. It was fun! Then I lapsed since I took a two-week trip and only just recently started up the routine again. I lost a lot in the down time =[

Yes—I know what failure is. I am relatively new to doing this. I'm at 225 now squatting and it's becoming increasingly hard to get through the last set of 5 reps. I'm pushing through it. I assumed I would have failed by now but it's been one of the workouts I've been increasing 5 pounds every week successfully.

I have not yet reached failure on squats, bench, or deadlifts because I'm following the 5x5 program where each workout you increase 5 pounds and you begin from just the bar. It's designed to use the trend of building up to increase your gains and it's great for newbies who have no idea what their ceiling is because of the increased sets. It also builds the habit of doing the work 2–3 times a week. So far I've found failure on overhead presses and push-ups/chin-ups (because it explicitly says go to failure). I've seen good results on my body in the last 2 months or so and I'm going to continue for the summer. I want to try Max OT and might be comfortable doing it now that I've been at this for a decent clip of time.

If you hit failure you are supposed to try 3 workouts in a row to beat it. If you cannot get to the full 25 then you reduce weight by 20% and build up again. I am more than willing to accept advice from more experienced people.

If I began lifting weights and failing non-stop I probably would not have stuck with it this long. Mentally the successes matter a lot.

[Satsuki]

Finally back to semi normal with running, it's weird - it's like, after this injury, i feel like i "forgot" how to run. I mean, i know what to do obviously but it's like my feet forgot what direction to go in. I am hoping it's just my brain being weird and once i get over the fear of re-injuring myself I'll be ok again. I've been doing the leg strengthening exercises - HUGE help. Absolutely a life saver.

Weight lifting has been going great, though - seems like I'm able to go up in weight every 2 weeks or so. I'm definitely pushed to failure for a few things - believe it or not, on bicep curls lol. That may just be my upper body strength sucking, though. Squats have been fine. Those are going to get harder in time :/

[Josh]

CURLS 4 THA GURLZ

[Dolemite]

BTW, forget Max-OT...I'm doing the Scott Steiner workout. Note: at 6:06 he actually DOES say "curls for the girls."

[Josh]

Featuring the two unfunniest motherfuckers on the planet.

[Dolemite]

Yeah, it's not like that video really needed commentary.

[Satsuki]

Holy shit, I really want to watch that without the shitty commentary. That is amazing.

[Drewbacca]

My legs for the last two weeks have been itchy as fuck. Apparently this happens when nerve endings are reestablished over long periods of inactivity.

It's mildly irritating.