So, in general, low reps with heavy weight tends to increase muscle mass, while high reps with light weight increases muscle endurance. This doesn't mean that you have to rely on one method exclusively. Alternating between the two may be the best approach for long-term success.
Muscle growth does not depend on the amount of weight you lift. It is a myth that one must lift more weight to bulk up. If you're regular and patient with lighter weights, you can achieve similar results.
It is possible to build muscle with light weights as long as you do an adequate amount of volume, train frequently enough, eat enough calories (especially protein), and always use proper form. Slowing down your lifts and increasing your time under tension is another excellent way to build muscle with light weights.
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.
You should aim to lift weight, also known as resistance, that's heavy enough to challenge yourself. A good guide is to select a weight that tires your muscles after 12 to 15 repetitions, or reps. When you find that weights feel too easy, try gradually increasing the weight to the next level up.
A loaded barbell isn't the only path to building muscle. According to a new study published in the Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, you don't have to lift super heavy in order to boost strength and gain muscle. As long as you go to failure, it doesn't matter how much weight you lift.
"A weight is too heavy if you struggle to maintain proper form or can't hit the number of repetitions set out in the workout," says Lefkowith. With a weight that's too heavy, you risk injuring yourself or unintentionally using muscles you don't mean to work to compensate.
Q: One of the top bodybuilders from my gym told me you don't need to lift heavy weights to get big. He said it's much more important to feel the muscles contracting and to keep the muscles under tension than to lift heavy weights. He recommends doing very slow repetitions so you can feel the muscles working.
Lifting weights requires more supervision and instruction for maximum benefit and avoidance of injuries than cardio exercise. Using weights alone without cardio, you will most likely develop bulk instead of a toned and streamlined body.
Reps for muscle growth
In order to get bigger and stronger, you must ensure your muscles work harder than they are used to. Generally, between 6-12 reps for 3-6 sets will help to build overall muscle size.
You'll maximize a muscle's full potential, working both its fast-twitch and slow-twitch fibers. Plus, lighter loads put less stress on your joints, tendons, and ligaments than bigger loads, decreasing your risk of injury. Schoenfeld suggests training with lighter weights one day every week or every two weeks.
You Don't Have Enough Training Volume
The more volume in your training (more sets and reps) the greater the hypertrophy response you will get (up to a point of course). If you like to stick to powerlifting specific programming this may very well be the reason you aren't seeing much progress in terms of muscle growth.
More repetitions with lighter weights can build muscle as well as heavier weights -- assuming they are done to the point of exercise-induced fatigue.
You're not targeting your muscles for growth
“Big muscles are not the typical outcome of typical strength training workouts,” Sothern says. Put another way, you may need to make some targeted changes to stimulate hypertrophy, or muscle growth.
It is made clear through all of these studies that resistance training done with high reps needs to be accompanied with high intensity (training to failure). If done, high reps can produce significant improvements in lean muscle mass, strength, fitness, body composition, and bone mineral density.
How Often You Should Lift Heavy Weights. Experts agree that somewhere around two to three days per week of heavy lifting is enough for the average person.
Heavy weights.
Lifting weights is a great way to build muscle strength, but when you're over 50 there is no reason to push yourself too hard. Try a slightly lighter weight that you can safely do 10 to 12 reps with.
Lifting heavy increases the production of many hormones, including the hormone IGF-1, which helps to stimulate connections in the brain and enhance cognitive function. In a recent study , leg strength was positively linked with stronger minds that are less susceptible to the negative effects of aging.
In general, exercises that use heavier weights at low repetitions result in increased muscle bulk and power. Conversely, exercises performed with lighter weights and higher reps lead to muscle toning and muscular endurance.
Strength training
You need to be hitting the weights at least three days per week. The research says that at the very least, training a minimum of two days per week is needed to maximize muscle growth.
similarly, heavy weight lifting refers to training with heavier weights than usual. Anything heavier than 200 pounds for upper body exercises is considered heavy. For most people, anything over 300 pounds for lower body exercises is considered heavy. The most a person can lift is known as their one repetition maximum.
Weight lifting benchmarks based on bodyweight
One formulation says decent male lifters should be able to squat 1.5 times body weight; good lifters double, and advanced lifters 2.5. Deadlifts hover at around the same ratio and advance slightly past squats as a lifter gets stronger.