Member
Failing a rep
Out of curiosity, does it matter to your CNS or recovery whether you fail a rep because you just aren’t strong enough with unlimited rest or you fail because you didn’t have enough rest. Specifically if I can’t get my last rep on intensity day 260x5, and fail rep 5, but then I do some back off sets but fail again say the last rep of the sets because I’m not resting enough, does that make any difference in regard to CNS fatigue. Or is that all just bullshit. Obviously I will rest more next time, but I am curious about what failing a rep really means in regards to CNS and recovery. I try not to fail ever but honestly I can’t seem to make progress unless I am trying to get every last rep and I just frankly fail every now and again. I am making slow progress so I don’t think it makes that much of a difference but you hear people (some reputable) talk about how bad failure is so I wanted to ask. Thanks for reading.
TMPHBITEU
Once again, one does not fatigue the central nervous system during normal strength training. That is all bullshit, as you correctly stated. The portions of the contractile mechanism that actually generate the force do in fact fatigue, so I'm not sure why it's so popular to blame the signalling mechanism.
✓ Member
So assuming adequate rest, what does it mean when you fail in the middle of the last set of a Linear Progression 3x5? That the energy system is overtaxed or that too much trauma has already been induced so as to render the contractile mechanism inoperable?Originally Posted by Mark Rippetoe
I realize the contradiction that there’s “adequate” rest, yet I’m asking about overtaxing the energy systems. Let’s say a 10 - 15 minute rest still causes me to fail on Rep 3 of Set 5.
TMPHBITEU
Member
Can the fatigue of the contractile mechanisms last for extended periods, such as a couple of weeks?
I'm not prepared at the moment to give an organized explanation of my predicament, but I ask because my presses and chins just imploded. (Squats going strong, and Deads are decent.)
Some ad hoc detail:
The "implosion" almost immediately followed a chin experiment. I was at +35# 3sets x 5, then a couple of weeks ago decided to test my chin strength by adding 10 to make it +45# 3sets x 5. I hit 5,5,4. But it was downhill from there. Chins are very weak now, where it's difficult to get 8 bodyweight reps, and today I had to drop the bench to 135# 3x5 from, oh, about 215. I'm eating, consuming lots of whey powder, sleep is adequate (max 6-7 hrs).
I don't think I'm a candidate for overtraining. Probably too weak and infrequent a lifter for that (~ HLM MWF).
Thanks Rip,
Vince
Member
I don’t know that I’ve ever missed rep 5, tried another set at the same weight, and got all 5 that time (although I will occasionally at least TRY the second set). What HAS happened to me many times is that I successfully grind through rep 5 on set one (but barely), and rep 5 of my second set goes up very easy.
How does THAT happen?
TMPHBITEU
Severe overtraining in an advanced athlete would present like this.
CNS stimulation, I suppose. This is the far more common experience in gyms, whereas the other seems especially prevalent on the internet.
Member
Often my second set feels better than the first. I assume after the first set, everything's hot.
✓ Member
Read already, but reread as: eat more, sleep more, you fool.
But I'm asking about the physiological distinction between the two possible failure mechanisms. The difference being the ability to produce the force in the first place and the ability to complete all prescribed work sets and reps. I'd think in the former case, the trainee just wouldn't be able to move the weight; there's been insufficient myofibrillar hypertrophy. In the latter case, there's been insufficient sarcoplasmic hypertrophy.
I guess in a roundabout way I'm asking whether it is possible to be adapted to move the weight without being adapted to the energy needs of the workout. Can myofibrillar hypertrophy outpace sarcoplasmic hypertrophy?
TMPHBITEU
I am not the physiologist.
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