kumar5 Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 So I'm new to bb. I'm gaining weight to reach my ideal weight and I want to bulk up.The thing is, when I'm working out, do I aim for more reps but with less weight or less reps but with more weight? I'm following a Men's Health challenge program, and even now I'm not doing the recommended 15 reps, I mostly reach 8 reps of 3 sets per exercise and them I'm out.But as I go along, I'm wondering if I maintain the weight I'm using now and improve lifting more with them OR lift heavier weights but with less reps... Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xphilx Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 1st: forget about that men's health bullshit. 2nd: read this.3rd: go back to the gym and everything will be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjohanx Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Echo on what Phil said. Men's health is bullshit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcina Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 A lot of fitness magazines are BS. I was reading this one women's fitness magazine and a woman was pictured doing dumbbell squats. Her form was so bad it actually made me angry that they would sell this to people!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubby2112 Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Any pop culture fitness or health information is horrible. I agree with everyone: Ignore it. On top of the link xphilx gave, there is a thread stickied to the top of this forum on gaining mass, cutting, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lobsteriffic Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 When I am on the stationary bike at the gym I will get bored and they have a stack of fitness magazines you can read...I am usually floored by some of the stuff in there. Especially the magazines that tell girls to do 50 reps of some stupid exercise with 2 lb. weights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kumar5 Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 Lol. Yeah, those magazines can be BS but I just need the exercises. I've read around the stickies here and I guess increasing weights would be ok if I want to increase mass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeganEssentials Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Lol. Yeah, those magazines can be BS but I just need the exercises. I've read around the stickies here and I guess increasing weights would be ok if I want to increase mass. Just remember, if you're not eating more calories than you expend, it doesn't matter how much heavier you lift, you won't gain mass (and probably little extra strength as well). With running, you'll need to increase calories quite a bit to balance things out if you want to gain any size and/or strength, so keep that in mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubby2112 Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 When I am on the stationary bike at the gym I will get bored and they have a stack of fitness magazines you can read...I am usually floored by some of the stuff in there. Especially the magazines that tell girls to do 50 reps of some stupid exercise with 2 lb. weights. But, but, don't you want long, lean muscles as a woman?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lobsteriffic Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 When I am on the stationary bike at the gym I will get bored and they have a stack of fitness magazines you can read...I am usually floored by some of the stuff in there. Especially the magazines that tell girls to do 50 reps of some stupid exercise with 2 lb. weights. But, but, don't you want long, lean muscles as a woman?! Ew muscles are gross, I just want to "tone" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjohanx Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Just remember, if you're not eating more calories than you expend, it doesn't matter how much heavier you lift, you won't gain mass (and probably little extra strength as well). Hmm I don't really want to debate this but it isn't necessarily true even if it's the easiest way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcina Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 When I am on the stationary bike at the gym I will get bored and they have a stack of fitness magazines you can read...I am usually floored by some of the stuff in there. Especially the magazines that tell girls to do 50 reps of some stupid exercise with 2 lb. weights. But, but, don't you want long, lean muscles as a woman?! Ew muscles are gross, I just want to "tone" LOOL! I used to follow the workouts in Oxygen religiously but I never gained anything because they tell you to do so much cardio! I just kept getting skinnier and skinnier and going "WTF!!??" Hahaha!Not to mention to stupid diets they have in there.. The Eat Clean diet and crap. I mean, it's good if you're trying to lose weight, but they never ever have anything in that magazine for women who are trying to gain weight (probably cuz most women dont' want to gain weight!) I've gained more muscle from eating high carb/high protein and skipping the cardio. I also lift heavier in the 6-8 rep range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kumar5 Posted November 20, 2009 Author Share Posted November 20, 2009 The magazine helps me decide what to do as I'm blur on which exercises hit which muscles. But I add and mix as I go along.The food, yeah, I am increasing but I'm gaining a bit of a belly. Is this normal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydneyvegan Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 A rough guide to go on is this 3-6 Reps = Strength (Eg, 3x5, 5x5) - bulk will increase too8-12 Reps = Bulk (eg 3x8, 4 x12) - Strength will increase too12+ = Endurance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kumar5 Posted November 20, 2009 Author Share Posted November 20, 2009 Thanks sydneyvegan. I minimally do 8 now, haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeganEssentials Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Just remember, if you're not eating more calories than you expend, it doesn't matter how much heavier you lift, you won't gain mass (and probably little extra strength as well). Hmm I don't really want to debate this but it isn't necessarily true even if it's the easiest way to go. Oh, Johan, you and your science! All I know is, I trained REALLY hard for years while undereating (primarily during times when I was running in addition to lifting), and all I did was lose muscle mass and strength. I'm sure there may be some tricky ways to make it work better with timing things optimally, but for the average lifter, if they're running semi-frequently and hitting the weights, they're going to need to eat more in order to get optimal benefit in the way of size and strength gains. I'm not talking truckloads of food more, but if you happen to be currently be eating just enough to maintain bodyweight with hard training, then add in, say, an hour of cardio in addition to your normal routine, it ain't going to be any easier to get bigger and stronger! Of course, experience does add into the equation as well. A new lifter will gain SOMETHING even if barely eating enough, but if you've been lifting regularly for a few years, it will be completely different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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