When lifting weights...?

Question

For faster results, is it better to lift a small amount of weight for a longer period of time, or lift a large amount of weight for a short amount of time?

I don't really want to bulk up. I just want to tone.

Answer 1

Hey man, first im a very experienced bodybuilder and powerlifter. i gots 4 first place trophys in powerlifting, not yet anything in any bodybuilding comps, but anyways, the best way to get toned, or "chizeled," you should employ heavy weights with lower reps. such as something you can handle with perfect form but also somthing not to heavy. a good standard for this would be 4-8 rep sets, and 2-3 min of rest in between sets. and for the lifts, to tone up, just stay with the basics, bench, squat, deadlifts, and legpresses. do this cycle for 12 weeks, then change it up, like say, everything the same except move it up to the 10-12 rep range, and lighten the weight according to the rep increase. also you might want to buy hydroxycut hardcore from gnc. that stuff works very well. good luck!

Answer 2

First, what do you mean by results?

Second, there is no such thing as "toning": in very general terms, a muscle can either get bigger or smaller. Being "chisled" is a function of low bodyfat, not how many reps you do.

Again, generally speaking, 3-5 reps will build strength with some size increases; 6-12 reps will focus more on hypertropy (muscle growth) and 12-20 will start to push you more into muscular endurance.

In terms of fat loss, short intense aerobic workouts can work wonders. To get the best of both worlds, check out www.Crossfit.com. You will likely curse my name during the workouts, but if you tough it out you will be a stud in no time flat.

If you are new to lifting weights, the best thing I can tell you to do is go here:

www.t-nation.com

and read through the forums. There is a ton of great, free info there.

Answer 3

If you're wanting results to be bulking up, then the best way to succeed faster is to lift more for a smaller amount of time.

Answer 4

Lifting smaller weights longer will get you cut and lean. Lifting heavy for short times makes your muscles bigger and stronger. Hope this helps. Say for instance basketball players i think lift lighter weights for longer period of time to build up their stamina and what not. Football players lift heavy to be all bulky looking.

Answer 5

just check this page out... it helped me out a lot

http://www.gain-weight-muscle-fast.com/building-muscles.html

DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT TEH GUY ABOVE ME SAID (IF U FORGOT WHAT HE SAID THIS IS IT BELOW):

"Lifting smaller weights longer will get you cut and lean. Lifting heavy for short times makes your muscles bigger and stronger. Hope this helps. Say for instance basketball players i think lift lighter weights for longer period of time to build up their stamina and what not. Football players lift heavy to be all bulky looking."

that right there is a myth.. its like saying "pouring gas into your car with the nozzle upside down will give u better milidge, and if u pour in right side up your car will go faster"... its totally not true... muscle only does three things... it gets bigger, it stays the same size, or it gets smalle.

Answer 6

Smaller amount of weight for more reps. If you try to do too much weight, you will hurt yourself and not get the proper amount of exercise to properly build your muscles.

Answer 7

Small weights for shape and endurance
Large weights for bulking up muscle and getting stronger...

Answer 8

to gain mass quicker you want to do smaller amounts of weight for multiple reps. you still need as much weight as you can handle though. you need to do 3 sets of 12reps and on the last two, you should be struggling a bit.

Answer 9

I think that smaller weight with more reps gives you more tone and you look "chiseled" but i think that high weight with low reps will give you muscle faster.

Answer 10

Low weight and high reps will give you better endurance and more strength, but high weighs and low reps will give you bulk