Generally speaking, you want to train both low and high reps to get ripped. Not just high reps. Training with low to moderate rep ranges can help you get ripped as low rep training at hard intensities will help you maintain strength to ensure you are able to do more work with lighter weights.
So, what are the best rep ranges for cutting? The best rep range for cutting is one that allows you to sometimes train with heavier loads to preserve basic strength (5-10 reps) and more moderate to light loads to allow you to retain as much muscle while training in higher volumes (10-20 reps).
More repetitions with lighter weights can build muscle as well as heavier weights -- assuming they are done to the point of exercise-induced fatigue. And fatigue is the important point. That means even with light weight, the last two to three reps should be hard.
High-rep training has more cardiovascular impact than lower-rep work, and it also burns more calories (probably not per unit of time, but because high-rep sets keep you working for longer durations).
“There is no value that has been established by science. One thousand repetitions of any resistance exercise does not fall into a paradigm known to improve muscular fitness.” What may happen, says both Olson and Kravitz, is that you are likely to predispose yourself to overtraining and injury.
Anything greater than 20 reps in a set is probably far too many. Performing this many reps in a set will have diminishing returns. If you can easily do more than 20 reps, then the weight you are using is probably too light or too easy to elicit any significant growth.
Because getting bigger and stronger is harder to do and takes more time than it does to lose body fat. What's more, having more muscle mass and strength provides a much bigger return on investment than just losing body fat. When you increase muscle mass and strength, losing body fat becomes easier later on.
You're Not Eating Well Enough
Make sure that your diet is free of excessive sugar, empty calories, and mounds of carbs. Instead, you should be eating plenty of protein and vegetables. If your diet isn't up to snuff, you'll keep a layer of fat over the muscles that prevents that ripped appearance.
The best rep range for building muscle
Numerous research studies show that high-volume resistance training is the best method for building muscle. According to the American Council on Exercise, the eight to 15 rep range holds the most muscle-building potential.
Biceps are best suited for intermediate reps. High reps tend to make them look flatter once the pump subsides, but very low reps aren't effective at stimulating maximum growth.
If you train with high reps, your goal is to build a bigger muscle. Some folks call this "structural hypertrophy" since the higher rep sets allow you to focus primarily on the muscles themselves. They also lend themselves to fewer total sets per exercise.
Despite what many novices (and even some strength coaches believe), lifting heavy is still an essential part to cutting. Lifting heavy, relatively speaking, is ideal for preserving strength and muscle mass during the cutting phase.
Generally, exercises with higher reps are used to improve muscular endurance, while higher weights with fewer reps are used to increase muscle size and strength.
Circuit training is great for cutting because of the fact that it's a heavy cardiovascular workout but also has benefits of weight training such as strength etc. The only one thing you have to watch out for is the fact that it is demanding because you're always working.
More realistically, losing a significant amount of body fat takes two to three years. Nevertheless, six to twelve months is a reasonable timeframe to achieve a ripped body. For more precise results, it's better to aim for a four-year timeframe.
When you first do an exercise, you'll get stronger rapidly. Just so you know: this is not because your muscle got a lot bigger. But, rather, because of your brain's improved ability to activate that muscle during the exercise. This is what we call neurological adaptations, which lasts about 8-12 weeks.
Having a "ripped" physique should not be equated with being fit and healthy, according to two personal trainers. In fact, the stereotypical "fitness" image of a six-pack and low body fat levels can often be due to bad health.
If you're looking to build muscle quickly, whether you've been training for years or are just starting out, then doing slower reps is the way to go. Workouts with slower reps cause your muscles to experience more time under tension, much more than with faster reps.
The common belief is that high reps magically gets rid of fat. While high reps with light weight to fatigue can create a muscular response, it does not necessarily remove fat better than low reps with heavy weight.
Being jacked is a term of endearment. It means you are quite large, have more muscle than the average gym member and look like you lift. If you are jacked you've probably been training for years and have an understanding of what type of training and diet works best for your body.