Fatigue

[quicksylver3]

Hello. I am about half way through science of sports training and I have been wondering how hard I should "push" myself in strength training. I have lifted weights for about five years now and I am definitely stronger than when I started, but I seem to have reached a point where there is little to no progression as far as increasing strength. I am a 20 y/o male. I have a couple of related questions:

1. If I am fatigued (late night/long day at work) and I can't complete a 3 sets of 10 bench press, should I do as many as i can per set and make it to 30 total reps... in other words, if I can only lift 6 on a set, should I take a short rest and complete the last four and then do 2 sets of five next instead of 1 set of 10?... I know I'm confusing, but I feel like I'm cheating myself if I don't complete all 30 reps. Am I over-working myself? Should I just stop the workout if I can't complete my first set of 10?

I often run into the problem where I set a workout and I complete it on the first day and then I can't complete it in my next workout (with 2 days of rest). I do teach martial arts, and I enjoy working out with my class, so I know that is one cause of my fatigue, but is it right to skip my strength workout if I work hard the day before? Or should I lighten or the load somehow modify the workout? Or should I stop being a pansy and lift the darn weight? Haha.

2. After reading about supercompensation, I understand that I should be progressing each workout. Does this mean I should be able to lift more weight (obviously in moderation) or do more reps from one workout to the next?

I appreciate all the information on these posts and in the various books and dvd's thomas kurz is producing. I have found much information very useful, but it seems like I'm getting nowhere in the strength area. Thanks ahead of time to anyone who can help me with any one of my questions!

[Thomas Kurz]

I am about half way through science of sports training and I have been wondering how hard I should "push" myself in strength training.

Read the whole book and you will know how to train. If this is too much for you, then use the simplified advice in my 29th column ( http://www.stretching.info/column.html ).

[quicksylver3]

Will do. Thanks for the reply!