When to fail?

[Scott Stevenson]

Hi Scott, whilst getting to grips with exercises and weights with the program, is it acceptable/a good idea to do extra reps when the weight has been set too low?

For example if I did 12 reps on a last set of compound exercise on a load set but have more in the tank - would it be best to take it to failure and then adjust weight next time?

Same with the pump sets, if Im at 25 reps, pumped but can still get another 5+ half reps out?

I see that it is addressed in the muscle round weight examples where the 6th set has 8 reps but couldn't see it elsewhere.

Thanks

Thanks Altamir for covering this.

I'll just add that the general recommendation for loading sets to to use a weight that you end up doing 6-12 reps with, with only the last (compound) set being taken to failure. (For isolation exercises that are zig-zagged, those can be taken to failure, as long as it's safe to do so.)

So, for that last Thigh Loading set, lets say of a plate loaded squat machine, you would take it to failure even if you are going to go beyond 12 reps. (This is assuming you have a spot or can rest the weight safely at the point where the machine bottoms out.) This is going to tell you how much to increase the loads the next time around.

If you get 20 reps (and this has happened to people who are growing rapidly and not expecting the strength gains), then you'd need to move up more than if you got 13 reps the previous workout.

-S