One of the most common mistakes we see in class is a lack of intensity during sets.
From all the data that has been collected, we know that going to absolute failure does not reap that much more benefit than going close to failure and stopping.
Muscle is the organ of longevity for many reasons, which we will not get into in this article. Let’s just say it is very important to build and maintain muscle as we age.
In order to build muscle, we must apply adequate stress to those particular structures for them to grow. A lot of people do not get anywhere near that type of stress in their training.
Training with adequate intensity is a key component to getting results from your training.
It is a skill that needs to be learned over time.
Here’s an easy way to tell:
After you get done with your set, ask yourself this question: “If I had a gun to my head, how many more reps could I have done?”
The answer should be 1-2 reps short of failure.
Take a look at the RPE chart and follow the guidelines.