Want to get stronger and build lean muscle?
If you want to actually get stronger and build lean muscle, you need to get comfortable with one thing: training close to failure.
The truth is, most people simply don’t train their muscles hard enough.
And no, we’re not talking about that burning feeling you get mid-set. That’s just a build-up of metabolites (not lactic acid, as many believe). That burn can happen long before your muscles have had a real challenge.
What really drives progress is taking your muscles close to failure - the point where you physically can’t complete another rep with good form. That’s when your body gets the signal to adapt, rebuild, and grow stronger.
Here’s the key:
You can train to failure with lighter weights and higher reps. It will just take a little longer to get there.
You can train to failure with heavier weights and fewer reps. It just might come sooner.
Either way, the goal is the same: take the muscle to the point where it can’t keep going.
Remember, the first few reps of any set don’t do much for progress. They’re just the warm-up before the real work begins. It’s those last few, challenging reps that spark change.
So next time you’re in the gym, ask yourself: am I stopping because it’s uncomfortable, or because I physically can’t do another rep?
That’s the difference between exercising and training.
