Why Light Weights Are All Wrong
Here are the reasons why light weights are all wrong:
1. You HAVE to hit failure to cause muscle to rebuild, which is what strength training is all about. With light weights, you have to perform FAR too many repetitions, and this will only lead to injury.
2. ALL the research says that you should perform no more than 10 reps to hit failure. Without heavier weights, this is impossible.
3. MANY of these programs urge you to exercise for 2 hours – A DAY – 6 days a week. That’s crazy and terribly stressful to your body.
4. Ladies, you will NOT get big from heavier weights. It’s virtually impossible. On the contrary, the heavier weights will make you long and lean.
5. If you don’t believe me, google the old picture of Diane Sawyer and Gayle King. Both of them looked amazing when they were following my plan. Diane took 4 inches off of each arm. That’s a huge amount. Gayle’s lower half also shrunk. ALL this was from heavier weights/tensions.
5. You can also get great results from the heavier tensions of the SPRI tubing. Start with green, but also get the red, blue and purple bands.
I hope this makes sense.
Jim
It makes complete sense to me and the regimen I follow. Who wants to spend all that time doing “powder puff” stuff when you can gradually progress to heavier weights and see the great results.
Comment by Bobbie Navone — October 29, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Thanks Bobbie. I can’t understand how other don’t see that it only makes sense to keep challenging the body.
Comment by admin — October 30, 2010 at 10:26 am
I’m using light weights (I call them “toy weights”) now but only for physical therapy as I rehab a shoulder injury that I received from a fall. I really, really miss my heavier weights and the results that you can get from them. And at 57, I feel it’s even more important to go heavy to retain muscle.
Comment by Amy — November 1, 2010 at 7:34 am
I agree. If I use heavier weights and hit failure on the 10th rep, I can see a different in my arms in about 2 weeks…I litereally just have to do 3 sets of 10 reps per muscle 3/4 times a week to see a differece…and Jim, you are so right, the idea that women get bulky from lifting weights is such a myth. the opposite is true!
Comment by Davinda Kaur — November 1, 2010 at 8:41 am