Start with low weight high reps, particularly/especially if you haven't worked out before. Use that style for at least 4-6 weeks. After you get used to lifting, start transitioning to higher weight, fewer reps. You are less likely to hurt yourself this way.
I struggled with eating habbits for years.. and I'm finally getting it.. after 3-4 years of really trying. I started by buying smaller dinner plates. By using smaller dinner plates, when I put my smaller portions on i Don't walk away with a plate that's half empty.. it looks substantial
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Depends on what your ultimate goal is. Do you want to build lots of muscle mass, and be huge like Ah-nold.. or do you want to loose weight and be "athletic" build?..
The latter requires low weight high reps, the prior high weight, low reps..
I am having gym withdrawels not being able to walk currently. I had lost 20 lbs and I am damned if I am going to put them back on because I can't exercise.
I have always heard when starting out do low weights, more reps.
hmmm this general rule of thumb has always worked for me..
low weight high reps = leaning out high weight low reps = bulking up (think martial artist vs. powerlifter)
oh, and the rep speed plays a little into it too... slower reps is for a "leaner" look, and faster reps is for more muscle tone. think marathon runner vs. sprinter body types.
the key to all this IS your food intake though... your body is a machine, and it can only do so much with the fuel you put in it. if you're not EATING towards your goals, your work won't show as much. nutrition is key babe. all the best to you both! *hugs!* :D
If you take a look at the concept of HST or hypertrophic specific training, it suggests all of the above. the concept is that you start with lighter weights, higher reps, then every workout add a bit of weight, usually, 10 lbs for multijoint exercises like squats and bench, and 5 lb for single joint exercises, like arm curls.
Another workout concept, which is great to start with, is the hardgainer routine. You still get to start out with light weights, moving towards heavy, with a short, sweet, to the point workout that can put 20 lbs of muscle on you if you work it right. And that's in 6weeks. No lie.
That's assuming your a fresh new to working out guy. If your well past that, you won't get those kinds of results. Oh well.
Try it out, you'll like it. Once the pain goes away from the squats.
in my workout history I've usually really stuck with cardio stuff bc I figured muscle certainly isn't an area I felt I needed to work on, it was more the losing weight thing. So I've never been very serious about a weight-training. But muscle burns more calories, so I know it's something I should be doin as well
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The latter requires low weight high reps, the prior high weight, low reps..
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I have always heard when starting out do low weights, more reps.
good luck
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low weight high reps = leaning out
high weight low reps = bulking up
(think martial artist vs. powerlifter)
oh, and the rep speed plays a little into it too...
slower reps is for a "leaner" look, and faster reps is for more muscle tone. think marathon runner vs. sprinter body types.
the key to all this IS your food intake though... your body is a machine, and it can only do so much with the fuel you put in it. if you're not EATING towards your goals, your work won't show as much. nutrition is key babe. all the best to you both! *hugs!* :D
Reply
Another workout concept, which is great to start with, is the hardgainer routine. You still get to start out with light weights, moving towards heavy, with a short, sweet, to the point workout that can put 20 lbs of muscle on you if you work it right. And that's in 6weeks. No lie.
That's assuming your a fresh new to working out guy. If your well past that, you won't get those kinds of results. Oh well.
Try it out, you'll like it. Once the pain goes away from the squats.
bt
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