When to fail?

[Robbie]

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

"you would take it to failure even if you are going to go beyond 12 reps"

Thats the exact answer I was hoping for