When lifting weights, is it better to do more reps with less weight, or less reps with more weight?
by 
Psycho the kid
ANSWERS: 24
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It depends on what you are trying to achieve and on what stage of progress in your workout program you are. It sounds like a beginner's question. So when you are a beginner, if you do more reps with less weight then you will build initial strength for more advanced stages. Pick a weight when you can do no more than 15-20 reps for a given exercise. When you do this for 4 to 5 weeks then you can move on to weights when you can do 6 to 8 reps. This will start building your muscles and increase your strength.
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Depends if you are trying to tone or build muscle For toning lower weights and more reps.
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If you want bulk, heavier weight, lower reps. If you want longer muscle, not as bulky (or just toning), high reps, lower weight. If you are just starting, which it sounds like you are, do not overdo it... do not go for the heavy stuff, low rep workouts. You have to train your muscles to do that or you risk a strain or even a tear. If you tear something when you are first starting, you are going to have problems with it for the rest of your lifting. I, myself, when I was lifting, was doing it to supplement martial arts training so I was not going for bulk. I lifted, I guess, moderate in both weights and reps (my sets were 12-10-8 per exercise, 3 per body part, three day split). Bulk for a martial artist is not a good thing. If you are going to go for the bulk, be sure to throw in some cardio. For that matter, do it anyways. You do sound like a beginner, like another answerer stated. Do not forget to stretch and warm up! I stretched before lifting, at various times during lifting (especially when doing legwork), and after lifting but, again, to supplement martial arts.
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it actually depends on what your trying to focus on. if your trying to gain muscle mass then stick to heavy weights with less reps such as anywhere from 7 to 11 reps per set. but if your trying to define your muscles and harden them then you would do light weights with lots of reps such as form 15 to 25 reps per set. i would actually prefer you stick to light weights because you should be defined all the time as oppose to being bulk and then start with the defining, unless your lifting for like a power lifting competition.
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If you want to have definition, like a body builder, you do a bunch of reps with lighter weight. If you want strength, like for football or weightlifting competitions like the olympics, you do fewer reps with heavy weight.
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more reps with less weight
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More reps with less weight will give definition. Less reps with more weight will give muscle strength increase.
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high weight, low reps= big bulky body builder type muscles...low weight high reps= toned muscles, still a lot of strength if your doing intense work though
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Dude, it depends on what you wanna do. Bulk up in muscle, or tone up. If you wanna bulk up do more weight and less reps, and if you just wanna tone do more reps and less weight. I think thats how it goes. Luck to ya.
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It depends on what your goals are. If you are just thinking about toning your body, then less weight and high reps(around 12-15) is ideal for you. But if you are thinking about bulking up, then lower reps(around 6-8)with heavy weights is better for you. But in my workout i try to mix both of these elements. So i start off with light weight and high reps just to warm up my muscles and progessively get heavier until i reach my fourth set which is the heaviest at around 5-6 reps.
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It depends on what your goals are. If you are just thinking about toning your body, then less weight and high reps(around 12-15) is ideal for you. But if you are thinking about bulking up, then lower reps(around 6-8)with heavy weights is better for you. But in my workout i try to mix both of these elements. So i start off with light weight and high reps just to warm up my muscles and progessively get heavier until i reach my fourth set which is the heaviest at around 5-6 reps.
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It depends on what your goals are. If you are just thinking about toning your body, then less weight and high reps(around 12-15) is ideal for you. But if you are thinking about bulking up, then lower reps(around 6-8)with heavy weights is better for you. But in my workout i try to mix both of these elements. So i start off with light weight and high reps just to warm up my muscles and progessively get heavier until i reach my fourth set which is the heaviest at around 5-6 reps.
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It depends on what your goals are. If you are just thinking about toning your body, then less weight and high reps(around 12-15) is ideal for you. But if you are thinking about bulking up, then lower reps(around 6-8)with heavy weights is better for you. But in my workout i try to mix both of these elements. So i start off with light weight and high reps just to warm up my muscles and progessively get heavier until i reach my fourth set which is the heaviest at around 5-6 reps.
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It depends on what your goals are. If you are just thinking about toning your body, then less weight and high reps(around 12-15) is ideal for you. But if you are thinking about bulking up, then lower reps(around 6-8)with heavy weights is better for you. But in my workout i try to mix both of these elements. So i start off with light weight and high reps just to warm up my muscles and progessively get heavier until i reach my fourth set which is the heaviest at around 5-6 reps.
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It depends on what your goals are. If you are just thinking about toning your body, then less weight and high reps(around 12-15) is ideal for you. But if you are thinking about bulking up, then lower reps(around 6-8)with heavy weights is better for you. But in my workout i try to mix both of these elements. So i start off with light weight and high reps just to warm up my muscles and progessively get heavier until i reach my fourth set which is the heaviest at around 5-6 reps.
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It depends on what your goals are. If you are just thinking about toning your body, then less weight and high reps(around 12-15) is ideal for you. But if you are thinking about bulking up, then lower reps(around 6-8)with heavy weights is better for you. But in my workout i try to mix both of these elements. So i start off with light weight and high reps just to warm up my muscles and progessively get heavier until i reach my fourth set which is the heaviest at around 5-6 reps.
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If you're a beginner, you need to choose a weight that will allow you 10 to 15 reps, because your goal at the beginning should be to develop perfect form. Once you have developed correct form on all exercises and you decide you want to be massive, then you should lift heavier so that you reach failure just under 10 reps.
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woah woah woah how come every single bodybuilder says to do 8-15 reps to gain size so you can trigger the ATP release where the 1-6 range is more for gaining strength? Every powerlifter i've known does low reps and every bodybuilder will do moderate weight for more reps
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its better to lift shit around the house that needs to be moved and for other useful tasks... if you ask me, the gym is the most anti-productive industry of all time
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If just starting, start out with less weight and more reps. Get going. Then move to putting on the weights.
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lifting weights with allot of reps and lighter weight build stamina, and one doing this will get a stringy lean look, where as lots of weight less reps, you knowing like doing a lift of 10 reps max weight one bulks up quik, especially if you work in your legs,
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Your reps per set will vary according to your goal: * 2-3 reps= strength with little size gain * 4-5 reps= strength & size, more strength than size * 6-8 reps= strength and size almost equal * 9-12 reps= strength and size, more size gains than strength * 13-15 reps= size gains with some endurance * 16-19 reps= endurance gains with some size http://www.muscle-fitness-training.com
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Before I even get started i am going to tell U get a goal. Know where U are headed. U need too have a goal in your mindset. Im not going to say something stupid like U must B a beginner, that would be putting ya down. Personally i am a beginner in bodybuilding & i know more bout what to do in the weight room than most. Ok now 2 the question U asked.... “heavy weights bulk up the muscle and lighter weights define the muscle”. Ex. Performing bench presses with light resistance and high repetitions will not magically burn fat off of your chest or cause it to appear harder and more defined. IF YA WANT TO BE BIG LIFT BIG with SMALL REPS or WEAR SMALL T-SHIRTS
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It totally depends on the goal. Less reps with more weight - You are definitely going to achieve more mass. More reps less weight - This would be an approach that would permit more fat loss, because it would be higher volume training. Some would call this toning... If you ever need any more tips, try this site out: http://www.how2muscleguide.com/
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