Can High Reps Make You Lose Weight?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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THE BIG TAKEAWAYS. In the end, nutrition has the biggest impact on overall weight loss, but

using a combination of strength training (heavy weights, low reps) and HIIT (light weights, high reps) can help you lose more fat

and keep more muscle.

How many reps is best for weight loss?

  • For fat loss: One to 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps using enough weight that you can only complete the desired reps.
  • To gain muscle: Three or more sets of 6 to 8 reps to fatigue. …
  • For health and endurance: One to 3 sets of 12 to 16 reps using enough weight that you can only complete the desired reps.

Do high reps burn more calories?

That means that when you lift lighter weights for more reps, you’re still gaining strength, just a different kind—muscular endurance.

The longer, high-intensity workouts also burn more calories

, help melt fat for a more toned appearance, and give you a greater afterburn effect.

Is high reps better for cutting?

So, what are the best rep ranges for cutting? The best rep range for cutting is one that allows you to sometimes train with heavier loads to preserve basic strength (5-10 reps) and more moderate to light loads to allow you to retain as much muscle while training in higher volumes (10-20 reps).

Is it better to increase weight or reps?

So, which is more important? Confusingly, the answer is both. When you lift heavier,

lower repetitions are advised

for the obvious reason: it is harder to lift heavier weights and your muscles fatigue faster. But what this also means is that your muscle size will increase more and faster the heavier you lift.

What’s the best exercise for fat loss?

  1. Walking. Walking is one of the best exercises for weight loss — and for good reason. …
  2. Jogging or running. Jogging and running are great exercises to help you lose weight. …
  3. Cycling. …
  4. Weight training. …
  5. Interval training. …
  6. Swimming. …
  7. Yoga. …
  8. Pilates.

Can you build muscle with high reps?

Low Weight, High Reps


Using lighter weight with a higher number of reps won’t necessarily grow your muscles, but it will make them strong in a different sense

. Exercising with lighter weights triggers a different set of muscles, known as Type 1, or “slow twitch” muscle fibers.

Can I lose weight by lifting weights only?



It is absolutely fine to only lift weights to promote fat loss

,” Chag told POPSUGAR. (If you despise running, take a moment to celebrate. Now back to burning fat.) However, if you’re trying to burn fat faster, you won’t want to cut out cardio completely.

What are the benefits of high reps?

One of the biggest benefits to performing high repetitions with lower weights during exercise is the

reduced risk for injury

. Decreased load and decreased strain are placed on joints when movement involves little to no weight. There is also a decrease in muscular compensation.

How heavy should I lift to lose weight?

Once you have your 1RM scores, you can now decide how much weight to lift. For weight loss, lifting

60 – 80% of your 1RM

for a particular exercise should suffice.

How many reps are considered high?

To clarify, a “high-rep range” typically means

15-20 reps per set

; a “low-rep” range is usually anything between 2-6 reps per set; and a “moderate-rep” range is 8-12 reps per set.

How many is too many reps?


Anything greater than 20 reps in a set

is probably far too many. Performing this many reps in a set will have diminishing returns. If you can easily do more than 20 reps, then the weight you are using is probably too light or too easy to elicit any significant growth.

Which is better high reps or low reps?


Low repetitions with heavy weight increases strength, whereas high repetitions with light weight increases endurance

. According to the concept, as repetitions increase there is a gradual transition from strength to endurance.

Do you have to lift heavy to get toned?

Overall, to get toned without putting on noticeable muscle mass (I’m talking a major increase in your size),

I recommend lifting medium weights

and performing three sets of about eight to 12 reps per exercise that you do.

What burns the most fat?


Running is the winner for most calories burned per hour

. Stationary bicycling, jogging, and swimming are excellent options as well. HIIT exercises are also great for burning calories.

Does sleeping in cold help lose weight?

Sleeping cold is not sleeping at shivering temperatures, and

shivering is not the way you lose weight while sleeping cold

. Even at neutral temperatures, you’ll burn a number of calories based on your body weight.

How do I begin to lose weight?

  1. Do not skip breakfast. Skipping breakfast will not help you lose weight. …
  2. Eat regular meals. …
  3. Eat plenty of fruit and veg. …
  4. Get more active. …
  5. Drink plenty of water. …
  6. Eat high fibre foods. …
  7. Read food labels. …
  8. Use a smaller plate.

What reps should I do to get ripped?

You can actually get more ripped training in the

8-12-rep range

, as this is what’s been identified as the best rep count for adding muscular size. Where muscle mass increases, so does metabolism.

Will doing 20 reps build muscle?

So, How Many Reps to Build Muscle?

Doing around 6–20 reps per set is usually best for building muscle

, with some experts going as wide as 5–30 or even 4–40 reps per set. For bigger lifts, 6–10 reps often works best. For smaller lifts, 12–20 reps often works better.

How do you lose belly fat?

  1. Eat plenty of soluble fiber. …
  2. Avoid foods that contain trans fats. …
  3. Don’t drink too much alcohol. …
  4. Eat a high protein diet. …
  5. Reduce your stress levels. …
  6. Don’t eat a lot of sugary foods. …
  7. Do aerobic exercise (cardio) …
  8. Cut back on carbs — especially refined carbs.

Why do I look fatter after working out for a month?

When you’re working out intensely and were regular for a month, after that time period, you will notice microtear in the muscle tissues.

To reduce any permanent and severe damage, the body automatically generates extra fluid to those muscles

, and thus your body can start looking fatter after a month’s workout.

How can I lose my arm fat?

  1. Focus on Overall Weight Loss. Spot reduction is a technique that focuses on burning fat in a specific part of your body, such as the arms. …
  2. Start Lifting Weights. …
  3. Increase Your Fiber Intake. …
  4. Add Protein to Your Diet. …
  5. Do More Cardio. …
  6. Cut Down on Refined Carbs. …
  7. Set a Sleep Schedule. …
  8. Stay Hydrated.
Carlos Perez
Author
Carlos Perez
Carlos Perez is an education expert and teacher with over 20 years of experience working with youth. He holds a degree in education and has taught in both public and private schools, as well as in community-based organizations. Carlos is passionate about empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential through education and mentorship.