3 Reasons Training to Failure is Like an Ice Cream Sundae
“The mind always fails first, not the body. The secret is to make your mind work for you, not against you.”
Key Takeaways
Training to failure is like eating an ice cream sundae because they are both:
Extraordinary experiences
Best once in a while
Experiences that put life in perspective
Full Story
Training to failure - pushing your muscles to the point that they are unable to perform another rep
Ice cream sundae - a sweet dairy dessert, usually topped with various sauces or syrups, sprinkles, or even banana and pineapple
On the surface, the two don’t seem to have any similarities at all. Now I know what you’re thinking, but I am neither ravenously hungry nor a crazy person. They are, in fact, very similar. Both events are extraordinary experiences, they are best once in a while, and they put life in perspective.
Extraordinary Experiences
Training to the point of uncontrollable quivering, sky high heart rate, and moderate amounts of nausea may not be your idea of a good time. But how about setting a goal, committing to training, and testing your physical and mental limits? Framed in this way, training to failure is one of the most exhilarating aspects of exercise and life.
If you’ve ever tasted a hot fudge sundae with extra whipped cream and, because why not, paired with a warm gooey brownie, I need not explain any further.
2. Best Once in a While
Don’t listen to the gargantuan bodybuilders on YouTube with special vitamins and 22 inch biceps - training to failure frequently is not an effective training program. Pushing to complete failure every workout or, heavens forbid, every set will:
Drastically increase your recovery time
Skyrocket fatigue
Increase risk of injury
Lead to psychological burnout (1).
Training to failure is fantastic occasionally, just not every day or even every week…
Just like ice cream sundaes! Go ahead, try it. Eat a sundae for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day for as long as you can. I’d bet this would lead you to a very dark place in no time - stomach bloated, sprinkles plastered around your lips, and tears streaming down your face. Not even to mention the adverse metabolic effects of consuming 20lbs of ice cream per week! I’ve made my point.
3. Put Life in Perspective
Grinding for 5 more reps when you thought you were nearing failure 10 reps ago with a heavy barbell on your back is a surefire way to make completing any difficult task feel easy. Whether you need to find the drive to keep studying, complete your chores, or tackle any other unpleasant job, just thinking about that set to failure will make it pale in comparison.
What’s better than a giant ice cream sundae? Not much. Perhaps enjoying it with friends or family in celebration of a special occasion, or after a long, sweltering day at the beach. Regardless of the context, after you put that first spoonful past your lips and let the heavenly combination of sugar and fat seep into your taste buds, you can’t help but think “Man, life is pretty sweet.”
What You Should Do
For both training to failure and smashing an ice cream sundae, you generally can’t go wrong with 1x/month. If you’re a 22 year old with perfect recovery and low life stress, or an ice cream fanatic that dreams of maraschino cherries at night, that number may be higher. If you’re a banged up 50 year old or lactose intolerant, that number may lower.
Cherry on Top
I know you're confused. You’re probably raring to go absolutely nuts in the gym while simultaneously craving a peanut butter sundae with extra nuts. I totally resonate with both, but I’m not going to apologize. I simply needed to share this message. You will be better off leaving 1-4 reps in the tank for most sets in the gym, and you shouldn’t have Dairy Queen on speed dial. The point is, both training to failure and eating ice cream sundaes are best employed in moderation. If you’re doing either too frequently, you’ll probably know it.
