When lifting weights, is it better to use heavier weights and do less reps or use lighter weights and do more?

Answer 1

Hey you,
It depends on what your goal are. If you want to tone (like most chicks), do more reps, and less weight. If you want to gain muscle mass, more wight, less reps.
do 2-3 sets, of 8-15 reps.
Good luck, working out is fun.

Answer 2

for optimum results you should use the heaviest weight possible while keeping strict form. this causes the most positive response from the endocrine system and on increasing the metabolic rate.

resistance training only provides the stimulus for growth the diet and circulating levels of androgens (test, DHT, etc.) ultimately determine the size of the muscles. if there is no caloric excess in the diet the muscles do not grow.

to make continually progress in either cardiovascular training or strength training you must continually increase the amount of "work" that is being performed in the same amount of time.
If you run on the treadmill for 30 minutes and travel 10 miles on March 29th by May 29th you should be able to travel 12 miles in that same 30 minutes. same goes for lifting weights. if you squat 185 for 5 reps today in a month you should be squatting 190 for 5 reps, etc.

Answer 3

Women cannot build muscles like men - we do not have the testosterone to do that.
Muscles burn fat.
To burn more fat you need muscles used to being strong - not endurance muscles - endurance is formed by low weight high repetition and strength is developed with hi weight and low repetition.
Do heavier weights about 60-80% of what you can lift...and lift it 10 times in a row and then rest for 1-2 minutes, then lift it another 10 times and rest and another 10 times and rest.
It should be heavy enough that you are grunting by the end of the 3 sets - give your body something to work at and help it grow lean.

Answer 4

If you do reps with weight greater than 85% of the maximum you can lift for the particular exercise, you are really doing "weight-lifting".
Weightlifting will considerably build strength and muscle mass.

On the other hand, if you are working with weights that you can do 10 to 15 reps with then you are doing 'weight-training'.
Weight training will build some mass and give better strength than doing nothing, but it is mainly used to give better health, fitness and muscle definition.

Answer 5

you should use lighter weights with more reps.
this is because your muscles will grow more and also dfine them better.
if you lift heavy weights and cannot complete your sets then your muscles wont grow as well.
you should do the following. the amount of weight is an example.
set 1. 20 kgs 12-15 reps
set 2 30 kgs 12-15 reps
set 3 40 kgs 8-10
set 4 50 kgs 8-10
set 5 60 kgs 8-10

now if you cannot complete the full set, then u are lifting to heavy.

now, reason i have 5 sets...
the first excersise of a body part. i.e chest should be 5 sets then 4 sets for every other chest excersie. goes the same for legs, triceps etc.

this is an beginners to intermediate level.

this info was given to me my an instructor that has been training for 15 yrs and by former mr australia in natural body building.

good luck

Answer 6

lifting heavier weights , less reps will add more mass, lighter weights more reps will tone you better

Answer 7

heavier weights build size lighter weights will define what you already have hope this helps

Answer 8

hi
definately do less weights but more reps, you don't wanna end up with man muscles!!