--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That last rep where you're trying as hard…" description: "\"That last rep where you're trying as hard as you can and you barely make it! That is what turns on the growth mechanism in your body. That last almost ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/mike-mentzer-37295_assistance_that-last-rep-where-you-re-trying-as-har_1871646.png" --- # That last rep where you're trying as hard as you can and… ![“That last rep where you're trying as hard as you can and you barely make it! That is what turns on the growth mechanism in your body. That last almost impossible rep where you're bearing your teeth, you're shaking all over, you need assistance! That rep is very special, that rep is very different…” quote by Mike Mentzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/mike-mentzer-37295_assistance_that-last-rep-where-you-re-trying-as-har_1871646.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/mike-mentzer-37295_assistance_that-last-rep-where-you-re-trying-as-har_1871646.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/mike-mentzer-37295_assistance_that-last-rep-where-you-re-trying-as-har_1871646.png) > “That last rep where you're trying as hard as you can and you barely make it! That is what turns on the growth mechanism in your body. That last almost impossible rep where you're bearing your teeth, you're shaking all over, you need assistance! That rep is very special, that rep is very different. There's something special going on inside your body when that happens.” [Mike Mentzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mentzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Extreme effort triggers physiological adaptations, prompting growth and strength gains. **In simple terms:** Pushing to the limit sparks body growth. Key Takeaway Embrace the hardest reps. Themes fitness growth effort physiology Mood determined intense Type motivational educational When to use this quote - weightlifting - personal training - rehab - endurance training Key Concepts muscle hypertrophy neural adaptation overload principle Questions to Reflect On - What limits your hardest effort? - How do you recover after such reps? A Different Perspective Only the final rep may not guarantee long‑term progress without recovery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assistance/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Body Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-happens-1358620/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Growth Mechanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth-mechanism-2586885/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Mechanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mechanism/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Over you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-you/) [Rep Bearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rep-bearing-2586882/) [Rep Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rep-different-2586884/) [Rep Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rep-special-2586883/) [Shaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaking/) [Something special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something-special/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Teeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teeth/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Your body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-body/) ## Related quotes > [“Sometimes healing doesn't happen to your body, it happens to your soul”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-healing-doesn-t-happen-to-your-body-it-happens-to-your-soul/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Not only are there before and after, but there are also beginnings and returns. Not only is there the creation of the humans, formed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-hogan/not-only-are-there-before-and-after-but-there-are-also-beginnings-and/) [Linda Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-hogan/) > [The power that made the body, HEALS THE BODY. It happens no other way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-palmer/the-power-that-made-the-body-heals-the-body-it-happens-no-other-way/) [B. J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-palmer/) > [Tuesday night at the Bible study we lift our hands and pray over your body, but nothing ever happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/tuesday-night-at-the-bible-study-we-lift-our-hands-and-pray-over-your/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [When you have become the Embodiment of Gratitude, think about how Pure the Water that fills your Body will be. When this happens, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaru-emoto/when-you-have-become-the-embodiment-of-gratitude-think-about-how-pure/) [Masaru Emoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaru-emoto/) > [What does it matter where my body happens to be?' he said. 'My mind goes on working all the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/what-does-it-matter-where-my-body-happens-to-be-he-said-my-mind-goes/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [You have to remain strong. That's the kind of filmmaker I want to encourage. Orson Welles was the one who said, you know, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/you-have-to-remain-strong-that-s-the-kind-of-filmmaker-i-want-to/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [Best wishes for a great marathon. Be sure to savor it. The first marathon is something special. Run long and healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/best-wishes-for-a-great-marathon-be-sure-to-savor-it-the-first/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [Something special can happen late at night in a jazz club. As the crowd thins, the musicians intuitively sense that those few who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-barber/something-special-can-happen-late-at-night-in-a-jazz-club-as-the/) [Patricia Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-barber/) > [Prasadam's a good little hook in this age of commercialism. When people want something extra, or they need to have something special, prasadam will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/prasadam-s-a-good-little-hook-in-this-age-of-commercialism-when/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [There are no short cuts. If you want to do something special, there's a serious price to pay. There's no way around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-thibodeau/there-are-no-short-cuts-if-you-want-to-do-something-special-there-s-a/) [Tom Thibodeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-thibodeau/) > [I thought I would make it (to the NBA). I believed that I would make it. But I had a Plan B. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avery-johnson/i-thought-i-would-make-it-to-the-nba-i-believed-that-i-would-make-it/) [Avery Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avery-johnson/) > [We all have that desire for something special, something committed. We all want to be The One.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/we-all-have-that-desire-for-something-special-something-committed-we/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) > [I've always known, all my life, that I was going to be something special. I never knew what it was, but I always had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-ve-always-known-all-my-life-that-i-was-going-to-be-something/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I just wanna kind of give the world something special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/i-just-wanna-kind-of-give-the-world-something-special/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) ## More by Mike Mentzer > [You must understand that the workout does not actually produce muscular growth. The workout is merely a trigger that sets the body's growth mechanism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mentzer/you-must-understand-that-the-workout-does-not-actually-produce/) [Mike Mentzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mentzer/) > [The only one you can accurately compare yourself to is you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mentzer/the-only-one-you-can-accurately-compare-yourself-to-is-you/) [Mike Mentzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mentzer/) > [To stimulate optimal size and strength increases, it's imperative that you regularly attempt the momentarily impossible. For example, if you can curl 100 pounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mentzer/to-stimulate-optimal-size-and-strength-increases-it-s-imperative-that/) [Mike Mentzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mentzer/) > [Presently, my understanding of the fundamental principles of the theory of high-intensity training is thorough and complete - not two plus two equals three-and-a-half,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mentzer/presently-my-understanding-of-the-fundamental-principles-of-the/) [Mike Mentzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mentzer/) > [It is only within the context of having properly developed your mind that you will be able to truly enjoy the achievement of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mentzer/it-is-only-within-the-context-of-having-properly-developed-your-mind/) [Mike Mentzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mentzer/) > [The theory of high-intensity, anaerobic, bodybuilding exercise is not true because I or anyone else, no matter how many might agree, say it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mentzer/the-theory-of-high-intensity-anaerobic-bodybuilding-exercise-is-not/) [Mike Mentzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mentzer/) > [Many bodybuilders sell themselves short. Erroneously attributing their lack of satisfactory progress to a poverty of the requisite genetic traits, instead of to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mentzer/many-bodybuilders-sell-themselves-short-erroneously-attributing-their/) [Mike Mentzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mentzer/) > [One cannot actualize his goals until he visualizes them clearly in the minds eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mentzer/one-cannot-actualize-his-goals-until-he-visualizes-them-clearly-in/) [Mike Mentzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mentzer/) > [In order to lead the orchestra, you must first turn your back to the crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mentzer/in-order-to-lead-the-orchestra-you-must-first-turn-your-back-to-the/) [Mike Mentzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mentzer/) > [Man, is an indivisible entity, an integrated unit of mind and body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mentzer/man-is-an-indivisible-entity-an-integrated-unit-of-mind-and-body/) [Mike Mentzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mentzer/) > [Man's proper stature is not one of mediocrity, failure, frustration, or defeat, but one of achievement, strength, and nobility. In short, man can and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mentzer/man-s-proper-stature-is-not-one-of-mediocrity-failure-frustration-or/) [Mike Mentzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mentzer/) [Explore all 12 Mike Mentzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mentzer/) ## More Assistance quotes > [Even during my youth, I can recall very few black people living on any kind of public assistance. People were working, doing some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-smith/even-during-my-youth-i-can-recall-very-few-black-people-living-on-any/) [Ed Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-smith/) > [It has been hard to muster the resources to support fledgling democracies and to intervene on behalf of the most desperate. The AIDS orphans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/it-has-been-hard-to-muster-the-resources-to-support-fledgling/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Student loans have been helpful to many. But they offer neither incentive nor assistance to those students who, by reason of family or other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/student-loans-have-been-helpful-to-many-but-they-offer-neither/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [The Republicans have chosen to neglect young Americans who need assistance with the costs of higher education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-conyers/the-republicans-have-chosen-to-neglect-young-americans-who-need/) [John Conyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-conyers/) > [In terms of the unemployed, of which we have over a million-and-a-half, don't feel particularly bad for many of these people. They don't feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/in-terms-of-the-unemployed-of-which-we-have-over-a-million-and-a-half/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [Nearly all the Gauls are of a lofty stature, white, and of ruddy complexion; terrible from the sternness of their eyes, very quarrelsome, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammianus-marcellinus/nearly-all-the-gauls-are-of-a-lofty-stature-white-and-of-ruddy/) [Ammianus Marcellinus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ammianus-marcellinus/) > [The longer people receive economic assistance, the worse their social condition and behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-longer-people-receive-economic-assistance-the-worse-their-social/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [We hope that more assistance will be available to the nations of the region, to include Egypt, on the three pillars that I discussed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-hope-that-more-assistance-will-be-available-to-the-nations-of-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [... happily the Government of the United States... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/happily-the-government-of-the-united-states-gives-to-bigotry-no/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Now one of the most essential branches of English liberty, is the freedom of one's house. A man's house is his castle; and while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/now-one-of-the-most-essential-branches-of-english-liberty-is-the/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [The lower the family income, the higher the probability that the mother must work. Today, 1 out of 5 of these working mothers has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-lower-the-family-income-the-higher-the-probability-that-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [China has established friendship with many African countries, and is opening itself up to Africa and providing assistance. It is cooperating with African countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wen-jiabao/china-has-established-friendship-with-many-african-countries-and-is/) [Wen Jiabao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wen-jiabao/) > [ I'd say that \[Louis\] Brandeis practiced a kind of a "living originalism," to use the title of Jack Balkin's great book. 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Their cries for assistance confront America with a test of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-cummings/many-of-these-americans-who-are-struggling-to-survive-are-americans/) [Elijah Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-cummings/) [Browse all 522 Assistance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assistance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That last rep where you're trying as hard as you can and you barely make it! That is what turns on the growth mechanism in your body. That last almost impossible rep where you're bearing your teeth, you're shaking all over, you need assistance! That rep is very special, that rep is very different. 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