Is training to failure necessary?

One term you're probably familiar with if you've spent any time among bodybuilders is training to failure. Though you may hear it often, many use terms like these without really knowing their meaning. It's important to define these terms and not just follow the masses because it can have a big influence on your results in the gym.

So, what exactly is training to failure? To put it in simple terms, training to failure means lifting weights with a particular muscle until it can not physically lift anymore. I have seen one muscle building guru tell his readers that training to failure is essential for building muscle. On the other hand, I have also read a testimonial from a respected trainer who claims that he reached a standstill in his training. When he's switched his training styles he began to make consistent progress again. He refocused his efforts on lifting to the point just before failure (which took some practice) and on making gradual progress each week. As you can tell, the subject is controversial, and you'll have to find your own answers to the question. One trainer explained it this way.

Vincent Delmonte, who went through an incredible transformation himself, tries to distinguish between momentary failure and absolute failure. Training to momentary failure means that you perform enough reps for your muscle to fail before moving on to another muscle group. Absolute failure, in contrast, would mean that your entire body is completely wiped out from exhaustion. This kind of training should be considered overkill as it puts a heavy strain on your nervous system and immune system, not just your muscles. These bodies systems take longer to recover, so you may require additional rest even if your muscles feel ready to train again. You can probably see by now how this could cause great delays in your training programs, not to mention it can put you at risk for serious injuries or illness.

Vince uses an interesting example to illustrate his point. He tells us that sprinters develop significant mass in their legs, but they do not accomplish this by training to complete failure. I can't imagine seeing sprinters run until they collapsed from exhaustion? I'm sure most would agree that this is not the wisest method.

You should realize that training to failure may not be the most accurate way to measure your results. If you simply train each muscle until it fails, you don't have a reliable benchmark to tell you if you are moving in the right direction. After all, your stamina can change from one day to the next day to a variety of factors. Instead, you should consider keeping records on your results such as how much weight you lifted in a given workout and how long it took you to complete your session. This is where a step by step, comprehensive program can take you a long way towards achieving your objectives.