Please Define Max Reps

[dancadera]

Hey guys...yeah, I know it's "maximum" reps but when is maximum exactly?

1. When you stop doing an exercise properly (ie...sagging during pushups) or...

2. Complete and utter shutdown (ie...arms twitching like crazy/drop to the ground during planks)

I have been doing #2, but after watching the push up video Steve was saying as soon as you stop doing them properly to stop so now I'm not exactly sure. Like doing pushups at some point I will start to sag but can probably will myself into a very difficult and slow extra pushup or 2.

Thoughts? Thanks!

[bigm141414]

For me it is when form slips. If I keep going it will just lead to injury, especially in heavy squats/dead lifts.

[Guest Snake McClain]

I personally if it is weighted exercises go with option number 1. If it is body weight related i go with number 2.

[Gainsdalf the Whey]

Both? For training and exercising the muscles, it's when form slips, because as others said, it can lead to injury. For competition, it's whatever the competition rules say. Like for parallel squats, as long as you get your thighs down to parallel and back up, it counts right? I wouldn't train like that though.

[bprime]

For the most effective training, "max" reps should be between n-3 to n-1, where n is failure.

In many/most cases, you should leave a couple in the tank.

[gugi9000]

For the most effective training, "max" reps should be between n-3 to n-1, where n is failure.

In many/most cases, you should leave a couple in the tank.

That's what Paul Wade suggests too. And I think Tim Ferris, IIRC.

[161803398874989]

That's what Paul Wade suggests too. And I think Tim Ferris, IIRC.

Wade is fictional for all we know, and I'm not too sure about Ferris.

But, yeah, for all exercises, form failure. Thing is, if you can't complete a rep with proper form, your muscles can't handle the task set to them, so it's muscular failure as well. By completing reps with bad form, you're just exercising muscles that are not part of the target group, so you're doing a whole lot of work for nothing.

[Oogiem]

I've been told that max reps is with proper form. Once form slips you stop and that's your max.

[CapN_Tommy_Sunshine]

I know that Pavel Tsatsouline always says to stop when form breaks down, and never go to failure.

[dancadera]

Interesting, thanks for the answers. I guess in a way I feel like if I don't go to failure (say in push ups) I'm just half-assing it if I feel I can still squeeze one or two out. Maybe that's the point I should stop though? I feel like if I had a trainer they'd be pushing me to get that last one in. I dunno.