[n88tr]

I don't mean this to be a "reps vs weight" thread, I'm not asking that. What I am asking is it it better, for bulking up, to have reps that are very hard to do but you're able to punch out 6 to 8, or have a hard weight but not as hard as above, where you're nearly struggling with each rep but this time it's easier to do the 6-8 but adding more weight would put it into the above class?

Some exercises I do very heavy weight and few reps like on the leg press [450 lbs for 6-8 reps] but for other exercises I go lighter and less strain, though I'm working up to the higher weight [like single leg curls with 60lbs on each].

Do you understand what I'm asking?

[Freak]

Depends what your goals are. For the best combination of strength and size keep the rep range 6-12. For strength gains 2-5 is the ideal rep range.

[monkeybiker]

So you are asking should the you pick a weight you can just about do 8 reps with or pick a weight you can do 10with but stop at 8.

It depends on the person. For me I have to train very hard to make progress and if I start overtraining I just take a little time off.

You just have to try it and see what happens.

[justlift32]

freak answered it perfectly IMO. use a weight that allows you to get to your desired rep ranges with difficulty, but keep in mind that every set you should not be failing and using forced reps.

[under construction]

Originally Posted by justlift32

freak answered it perfectly IMO. use a weight that allows you to get to your desired rep ranges with difficulty, but keep in mind that every set you should not be failing and using forced reps.

do you mean failing and forcing in combination or do you mean that you should not take all of your working sets to failure and why? thanks in advance.

[justlift32]

sorry that was not very clear. when i say failing, i mean not meeting your desired rep range. when i say forced reps i mean being helped by a spotter to meet your desired reps or go beyond them.

what i meant was that you should not be failing on every single set and using forced reps to meet your desired number of reps. Yes, it is good occasionally to use heavy weight, fail, and then use the help of a spotter to continue. But to think of doing this on ever set, is very counter productive.

hope that clarifies what i wanted to say, i just did not have to type the entire thing, was on my way to class. haha

[Freak]

Agree 100% Justlift!!