When your body is used to lifting a certain amount of weight, do you need to increase how much you lift?

Question

I only use 7 kilo weights, and will be moving to 8 soon. When my body gets used to it, do I always need to increase the weights to get the same results, or will it mantain it? Also, how much should I be lifting for toned arms? I have muscle definition, but my arms are still flabby. Do I need to increase weights for that? Thank you

Answer 1

no do not increase your weights when you get used to the weight increase your repititions or how many times you lift that weight. If you increase weight you could end up looking blocky like guy arms.

Answer 2

Good job asking the right questions BEFORE making changes!

Generally speaking, when you increase the amount of weight that you're lifting you increase the likelyhood of injury(which will set you back quite a bit, even with a minor injury), and also decrease the amount of control you have over your movements. Thusly, you want to be very careful about increasing the amount of weight. Start by doing more reps, and try doing different exercises to make sure your working all of your muscles at the right angles. You only want to increase the weight after you are certain that you can handle the new weight at 3 sets of 10 reps each without much difficulty. If you're not sure, don't try until you ARE sure.

Basically, the way your body works is this: your body will always try to make sure that your muscles are as small as they can be and still comfortably do the amount of work that is necessary to live, since smaller muscles require less resources to operate and maintain. This is why our muscles don't keep growing on their own unless we work out and force them to. When you do more work than your body is used to, it will gradually increase the size and capabilities of your muscles to compensate. Keep in mind that your body doesn't necessarily care if that increase in workload is through more reps or higher weights. Because of this you want to try and find a balance between the weight and number of reps - you could, hypothetically, get stronger than what you are right now by lifting half a kilo - it would just take so long that you'd pretty much be working out all day. You could get decent results by lifting 10 kilos, but then you'd just be asking for an injury. Just use the guidelines in the first paragrapgh and pay attention to what your body is telling you - if it says stop, then stop. Good luck!

Answer 3

What a unique question that is dear! I would say increase when your ready i suggest increaseing gradually for instance maybe move onto 8, but decrease the amount of times u life in a day or week until ur body is used to the extra lifting then u can slowly work your way back up to your normal routine. Staying in shape is important good luck & good job! =]

Answer 4

If you want to just tone your body and not look like a wrestler, follow a regimen of lifting weights until you get the desired body you want to have. If you increase or do more weights, you will continue to grow mass as your body adjusts. Why not keep doing what you are doing now(another month) and see if there are any changes? Add a little if you like and decrease as you get the body you want.

Answer 5

Your body get used to a specific exercise and then slows gaining even if you increase the weight. A good idea is to vary *which* exercises you do about every 6 weeks to avoid stagnation.

Try a different exercise for the same muscle group... there are lots of variations.

Aloha

Answer 6

yes, you need to increase the weight from what you are saying. If you are looking for more results you will do better by raising the weight lifted. you are smart to be starting slowly and raising it slowly, this is good for your body.

Answer 7

to tone you well not increase the weight to fast,it is the number of reps that make the differents.start slow and when you are feeling the weight you will know when enough is. Good Luck.