Cathe, why 2 or three sets for a weight exercise?

[Mic]

Hi Cathe I just wanted your opinion, I've read where you get most of the benefit from a weightlifting exercise in the first set, atleast 80%, so why do many instructors have you do 2 or 3 sets even after you have had a warm-up? I'm curious to know what we're gaining?

 

[bunny girl]

Not Cathe, but I have been told that to get the maximum benefit our of an exercise, you need to "exhaust" the muscle. The exhaust will tear down muscle fibers, thus spuring the healing. When the muscle fibers heal, that is when you see the definition and muscle growth. Hope that helps and makes kinda sense.

 

[catwoman]

Not Cathe, either, but I don't feel like I'm getting ANYTHING out of my first set. I really feel it in the second and/or third set, though. I'll take experience as a teacher anytime over something that someone tells me.

 

[Jane P]

In the Pure Strength series, Cathe mentions that it's very hard to lift heavy enough at home to exhaust the muscles (ONCE YOU'RE PAST THE BEGINNER STAGE). She makes up for that by doing more sets. You can always just do one set with the heaviest weights you can manage and see how it works for you.

 

[Mic]

I continue to get good answers to this question, thanks.