What is the better, high reps low weight, or high weight low reps?!


Question: I've always done low weight high reps. My dad says that low weight high reps with make you look like a body builder, like arnold swartsanager, and high weight low reps will make you look like one of thoughs guys on Worlds Strongest Man were they pull trains and stuff. I want to look big but not fat. I'm very tone but I want to add some bulk. Should I do high weight low reps? The thing about that is though, I don't want to look fat but actually be really strong...


Answers: I've always done low weight high reps. My dad says that low weight high reps with make you look like a body builder, like arnold swartsanager, and high weight low reps will make you look like one of thoughs guys on Worlds Strongest Man were they pull trains and stuff. I want to look big but not fat. I'm very tone but I want to add some bulk. Should I do high weight low reps? The thing about that is though, I don't want to look fat but actually be really strong...

Low weight high reps really keep your muscle in shape, but there really is no such thing as "toning" with it. It's a myth.

High weight low reps is for muscle building. To get stronger you have to put on more muscle (no way to avoid it really), and to put on more muscle you need to pick up heavier weight. The normal suggestion is to pick up weight that is so heavy that you can do no more than 6 reps. Do 5 reps with that weight. When you can do all 5 reps, all 3 sets (I do 3 sets but other people might require less or more sets), increase weight the next time by just a little. If you don't increase your weight your muscles will adapt to the same weight and they will not grow, so you have to keep applying more and more weight on them consistently.

Low weight and high reps is for resistance, really. It does not make you stronger and it does NOT tone the particular area you are exercising. So bragging about how many pushups you can do is good for competition, but you really aren't strong if you say you can do 200 pushups. You just trained your chest muscles for endurance. Once that push-upper realizes he's not getting strong, he will move on to bench press. Remember, 5 reps and 3 sets. If you can do more than 6 reps with that particular weight, you should put more weight on. If you can't do more than 2 reps, you're using way too much weight. If you're not using proper form and technique and are trying to do so, you're using too much weight.

Hope that helps. Happy muscle building.

Low weight-high reps. tones without adding bulk. High weight-low reps adds bulk. If you want to look bigger but not fat, try the high weight-low reps. and pair it with cardio work and healthy eating. If you want to add bulk, increase your protein intake with lean meats or soy products.





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