Why You Should Rethink Your RIR (Reps in Reserve)

Lenny had always used something called “Reps in Reserve” (RIR) to guide his workouts. It meant stopping when he felt he had a couple of reps left before failure. But one day, his coach said, “Lenny, what if you rethought RIR? What if you pushed a little more each time?” Lenny was confused. “But if I’m stopping with a couple of reps left, isn’t that the best way to stay safe and avoid injury?” The coach smiled and said, “RIR is a good guide, but sometimes, pushing closer to failure can help you grow faster. You don’t have to always go to complete failure, but pushing a little closer can be more effective than stopping too soon.” Lenny tried it out. Instead of stopping with two reps left, he tried stopping with just one. The next day, his muscles felt worked in a new way. Over time, Lenny learned that rethinking his RIR and sometimes pushing closer to failure helped him grow stronger. He didn’t need to push too far, but just the right amount made all the difference. Lenny felt more confident, knowing that adjusting his RIR helped him find the perfect balance for growth!