Should I exercise with smaller weights and more reps or bigger weights and more reps to build muscle mass?
by Craig on Saturday, June 5th, 2010 | 7 Comments
Which will help me to build more muscle mass, i.e. make my muscles bigger, and which will help me get that ‘cut’ or shape of the muscle? Also, does anyone know of any websites that can give me tips and tricks on weight training?
When doing bench presses, should the position of the bar be right above my chest or right above my throat? Both seem to be easy to me but which is the correct thing to do? Does it apply to inclined bench presses too?
Hi, if you want to get "cut" then you will want to work with heavier weights. Start with what you can handle at say, 20 reps. Then build your reps up to say 40 or 50. Once you hit 50 reps, move up in the weight class. And start at say 20 reps again. Repeat until you reach your desired bod. Lighter weights with high rep count is usually good for keeping muscle tone, building stamina and burning calories.
Also, while bench pressing, you want the bar to be just under your throat and above the chest, ie., even with your collar bone. good luck!!
heavy weight lesser reps builds muscle mass.
lesser wieght at more reps gets you toned
benching is over the chest
yes to incline
just google weight lifting tips and stuff you will find various sites helping.
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Less weight more reps. Go slowly, that will burn calories and cause your muscles to work harder. Build up the weight as it gets easier but stay slow. Yep, works for just about any weight lifting position. Great for arms. You want to build so that you don’t strain your muscles though, injury would only set you back. Not too light to begin with.
Larger weights such that you can only do 3-5 reps for mass.
I do bench presses a variety of ways to work the full range of the muscle. Alternate how you do them with each workout.
for building mass you should lift heavy, and stay within the 8-12 rep range. anything lower than that and you’re focusing more on strenght, and if you go higher in reps you’re just increasing muscle endurance, which won’t really help build muscle. a good website is http://www.bodybuilding.com, or check out their forums, youll find tons of helpful advice.
whne you bench press the bar should be above your chest, same with on incline.
lastly, don’t listen to the people telling you that more reps tones the muscle or makes it ‘cut’. the only way to become more cut is to lose bodyfat.
Alternate with more and less. One day use the larger amount of weights and fewer reps. Then the next day reduce the weight but increase the reps. The larger weights are for mass the reps are for strength.
Then about every month to 6 weeks, change or vary the exercise to continue to build. I go through changing one exercise a week and avoid changing all at the same time.
Good luck, keep pumping!
The person above me, you’re an idiot. The reps aren’t for strength. They’re for endurance, like someone else stated. Just lift heavier weights with fewer reps. Try aiming for 10 reps. Doing anything more than 15 reps for an exercise is a waste. But hey, some people like to think they’re toning their muscles when they perform countless reps, when really their muscles aren’t getting any bigger.
Good luck with the lifting.