Quick question about weights.

[The Afrodactyl]

Anybody on the Escapist use weights?

Just asking because I want to know the effects of doing a lot of curls on a lighter weight, as opposed to a few heavier ones.

I'm fairly scrawny, so nothing going to be fantastically heavy, and I'm not looking to get huge, just get to the point where I've got some proper meat on me. I'm doing about 600-700 bicep curls on 5 kilo weights and it generally starts to burn around the 300 mark, so I carry on figuring that the tissue has to tear before it will get stronger.

So is doing a lot of lighter curls be as effective as a few heavy curls for muscle gain?

 

[b3nn3tt]

More reps with a lighter weight is better for toning muscles. For actually making muscles bigger, you're much better off using heavier weights and doing fewer reps

 

[Lawbringer]

Should point out that having *bigger* muscles isn't necessarily the best way to be. Depends who you're trying to impress, but the more toned muscles mean you have better endurance and will be good at other activities too. Big muscles just mean that if you punch someone he won't be getting back up again

If you work out at the gym you should definitely speak to one of the personal trainers that work there. Usually they will give you free advice without you having to sign up to some workout programme and it will help you make sure you're getting the most out of your workout.

Doing 700 bicep curls sounds like a massive waste of time considering some of the best athletes in my gym will usually do no more than a hundred (maybe two) in a whole workout session, spread out over several sets.

 

[MikeOfThunder]

I'm doing about 600-700 bicep curls on 5 kilo weights

So is doing a lot of lighter curls be as effective as a few heavy curls for muscle gain?

Man, thats crazy! I wouldn't advise it to be honest.

You can only improve your muscle strength by doing heavier wieghts.

When I go to the gym and do arm curls I will start on something light to warm up, then:

-10-12 reps of decent wieght (for me 10kg)
-8-10 reps of bit heavier (12.5 kg)
-6-8 reps of heavy (15kg)
-REP OUT - (17.5kg) do as many as you can, this might only be 1 but it will improve your strength and absolutely kill you

You want this type of count down on all your wieght activities, but just be comfortable with what you do and ensure that you have someone to 'spot' you. Never do more then what you can handle, thats dangerous and you can seriously hurt yourself. Eventually after a few weeks you will be able to increase each level, i find that when I am able to do 12 reps on the 'heavy' wieght I will move everything up a level.

doing 600 reps on something you find easy will not help you get stronger or larger, the only thing it will do is improve your endurance for that one wieght, its fairly pointless.

Also remember that if your doing arms, curls aren't the only thing you want to do. Ensure that you train your entire arm. Biceps, triceps, forearm and even wrists. A good arms session should take you about 30-40 mins depending on how long you take in between each rep. Its good to train in two's as it will ensure you have a rest between each workout.

Hope this helps!

 

[The Afrodactyl]

So a shit-ton of lighter weights isn't a great idea?

Damn. Back to push-ups (including vertical ones) then.

@MikeofThunder, I'm not just working my biceps, I'm doing a bit of other stuff, but my shoulders are freaking huge compared to the rest of me! xD