Does High Reps Really Work?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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And research suggests that

high reps are at least as effective for putting on muscle as heavy training

—in fact, the Public Library of Science reported that subjects who did 24-rep sets made better gains than those who did five-rep sets. In short: Any kind of weight training can build muscle.

Do high reps still build muscle?

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.

Are high rep sets good?

Research and years of training have previously shown that the rep range of 1-6 per set is best for increasing muscle strength; 7-12 reps per set is best for increasing muscle growth; and

reps of 12 and higher are best for increasing muscle endurance

.

Which is better low or high reps?

So, in general,

low reps with heavy weight tends to increase muscle mass, while high reps with light weight increases muscle endurance

. This doesn’t mean that you have to rely on one method exclusively. Alternating between the two may be the best approach for long-term success.

Do you have to do high reps to get ripped?

Truth is,

high-rep sets increase muscular endurance, but not necessarily fat-burning

. 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.

Is 20 reps good for hypertrophy?


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.

Can a 65 year old man build muscle?


Seniors Can Still Bulk Up On Muscle By Pressing Iron

Our muscle mass decreases at surprising rates as we get older. But researchers found that people older than 50 can not only maintain but actually increase their muscle mass by lifting weights.

Is it better to lift heavy or light?

The truth is, there’s no correct strategy —

both are valid choices

. Lifting heavy dumbbells, kettlebells and barbells will certainly make you stronger. But lighter weights can help you get stronger too — it just may take you a bit longer. It all comes down to one important factor: muscle fatigue.

Do high rep workouts burn fat?

Fact:

Light weights with high reps alone don’t tone muscle or burn fat

. People often use light weights and high reps exclusively when aiming to lose fat, but this is a huge mistake — especially if you want to have toned muscles, because lifting weights doesn’t stimulate muscles enough for fat loss.

Are high reps better for legs?

Use Higher Reps

With legs, however, I always found – and research backs me up – that

higher reps produce the biggest gains

. I experienced great results with squats, lunges, leg presses and leg extensions when doing sets of 15-20 reps.

Will sets of 30 build muscle?

Any rep range can build muscle effectively if sufficient effort is generated and progressive overload is applied, but

30 reps per set should still be used sparingly unless it’s absolutely necessary for you to train in that high of a rep range

.

Is 8 reps good for hypertrophy?

The researchers concluded that heavy loads are best for maximal strength goals, while

moderate loads of 8-12 reps are best suited for hypertrophy goals

when performing the same number of sets.

What rep range is best for hypertrophy?

If your objective is strength or power (think: heavy lifting), the textbook advice is to perform 3 to 5 sets of 2 to 6 reps per exercise. For hypertrophy (building muscle), the sweet spot is

3 to 4 sets of 6 to 12 reps

. And if your objective is muscular endurance, shoot for 2 to 3 sets of 12 to 20 reps.

How can I get ripped at 45?

Why high reps are better?

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.

Why is my body not getting toned?

1.

You’re doing too much cardio

: Cardio is an essential part of weight loss routine and is very important for your heart health, but doing only cardio or too much cardio can the reason your body is not ready to tone. You need a proper exercise and diet plan to make sure you tone your body right.

Are high reps a waste of time?

High rep (13-plus) sets


They’re necessary, but also a waste of time and energy

. But if you do a set of 8, you’ll only need 5-6 reps to get you into the growth zone of that set.

Is 5×5 good for hypertrophy?

Thus, if strength is your primary goal, you will love cluster training. Regardless,

the volume is the same as a regular 5×5 program making the 5×5 cluster training program an excellent option for hypertrophy training as well

. To further induce hypertrophy, just decrease the breaks in between each cluster.

Is 5 sets of 12 reps good?


Reps in the 1-5 range build super dense muscle and strength

. Reps in the 6-12 range build equal amounts of muscular power, strength, and size. Reps in the 12+ range primarily build muscular endurance and size and also cardiovascular health.

How many pushups should a 70 year old man do?

Men who are 70 to 79 years old should be able to do

six to nine

push-ups and 10 to 14 sit-ups, while women in that age range should be able to perform four to 10 push-ups and seven to nine sit-ups.

At what age does muscle growth stop?

Both men and women start losing muscle mass as they age. Most people see their muscle mass diminish around 3% to 5% per decade

after turning 30

. Unfortunately, as your muscle mass diminishes, you also become more prone to breaking a bone if you fall. That risk increases for people diagnosed with sarcopenia.

Can an 80 year old build muscle?

Seniors who work at it, however, can still make strength gains. “Research shows that,

even into your late 80s, your body still has the potential to build muscle mass

,” Stacy Schroder, director of wellness at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, said.

Can you get ripped with light weights?


You can train with lighter weights without missing out on any gains

. Some people like to say that lifting heavy weights is the only way to build muscle. High reps and light weights might improve your endurance, these people argue, but they’re not going to make your muscles any bigger.

What burns more fat high or low reps?

The common belief is that

high reps

magically gets rid of fat. While high reps with light weight to fatigue can create a muscular response, it does not necessarily remove fat better than low reps with heavy weight.

How can I get ripped?
  1. Step 1: Strength Train to Build Muscle. …
  2. Step 2: Cut Calories to Lose Fat. …
  3. Step 3: Eat Enough Protein. …
  4. Step 4: Eat a Moderate Amount of Healthy Fats. …
  5. Step 5: Try Carb Cycling. …
  6. Step 6: Use Portion Control. …
  7. Step 7: Add High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) …
  8. Step 8: Get Some Sleep.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.