Bullshido Gods smite me where I stand if this has been posted before;

I need some help on some general terminology in the world of fitness - primarily in the weight lifting area. I have one specific question that I will ask by explaining the situation.

I am doing the bench press and I begin to get very worn out, as I am driving up it feels like I am pushing as hard as I can but instead of driving the weights up like it once was, it is now only enough to keep the weights from falling back down on my chest (I had an experience spotter with me so the safety of the workout was not a concern).

Is that what is being referred to when people talk about pushing past Muscle Fatigue? If not, is there a specific term for that situation?

I have just recently began weight training with a friend of mine - whom I forgot to ask so I am trusting that you fine folks will be able to help me out. (Granted I wouldn't have to be concerned with getting flamed if I asked the friend of mine, but oh wells!)

Thanks,
Charles

That's commonly know as muscle failure. I think fatigue describes something else or they could be interchangable.

That's failure. Pushing past muscle fatigue I imagine would be the notion of doing something even when exhausted. Failure is the sign that it takes more than effort to complete the lift, and no degree of effort will accomplish the repitition.

Is that a bad thing to have happen?

Or is that just a sign that I have reached my limit until I build my muscle up more?

Depends what you want to do. For bodybuilding it's a very good thing. Bodybuilders love the pump, the burn, and the high you get from going to failure. For strength training...

Depends what you want to do. For bodybuilding it's a very good thing. Bodybuilders love the pump, the burn, and the high you get from going to failure. For strength training...

For strength training...?

... it is usually not a good idea.

Oh, alright.

Thanks guys!

I think I am going to enjoy attempting to build muscle! :D I just hope I am doing it right!

Read up on it and even enlist the help of professionals.

The last thing you want to do is lift wrong and **** yourself up.

Read up on it and even enlist the help of professionals.

The last thing you want to do is lift wrong and **** yourself up.

Agreed, I am most paranoid about lifs like the Deadlift or Squats, basically anything that requires my back to be in very good posture.

I know I can do it, but I pretty much need someone there with me when I do it(at least for now) to keep my posture in check if/when I start to deviate from that posture.

I Deadlifted wrong by having the bar too far away from my legs.

Luckily i wasn't lifting heavily but the muscle strain lasted weeks

Oh, alright.

Thanks guys!

I think I am going to enjoy attempting to build muscle! :D I just hope I am doing it right!

One way to find out is by reading the proper material. Starting Strength for example. Check also the articles in t-nation as they are usually of good quality when it comes to build size.

Depends what you want to do. For bodybuilding it's a very good thing. Bodybuilders love the pump, the burn, and the high you get from going to failure. For strength training...


Really, I wouldn't even say that training to failure is a very good thing for bodybuilding, at least for a natural trainee. It can have some applications, but for those without chemical assistance, you're not going to want to go to failure very often.

How applicable would training to failure be if you were working on endurance?

Generally training to failure for any aspect is not a good thing. Training to failure means you train until you fail at a movement. For your CNS, this isn't a good thing to reinforce in your motor pattern. It also tends to fry out your body, and can lead to overtraining faster.

That being said, I don't like weight training for endurance compared to SPP that is meant specifically to improve your endurance and ability at a given activity. Training boxing to get better at boxing, and running to get better at running.

Thanks for that mate, very interesting.

One thing though, what does SPP stand for? Specific something?