Heavy Lifting Always the Best?

sun_fish

bump

runfreddyrun

i started out lifting as heavy as i could, in the 6-8 rep range, but mainly using machines. when i began i was about 60 lbs overweight with a body fat > 45%. after a few months, i believe i strained my pelvic floor muscle. this happened around thanksgiving and although i'd hoped it would go away, it hasn't. i've just started trying to see doctors and get it figured out.

if it is indeed my pelvic floor muscle that is injured, the advice for strength training is to lift lighter weights with higher reps - exactly what my trainer has been doing with me. and by lighter weights i don't mean 5 lb. i mean like 40 or 50 lbs instead of say 70 lbs.

i think it's bad to strain. and maybe everyone already knows that but somehow i didn't. and now, i think it's perfectly fine to do lighter weights with more reps as long as you are lifting to failure. what does it matter how you get there?

as a sidebar - i've read articles that have said heavy weight is bad for your joints/body in the long run because of all the stress it puts on. but i've also read articles that say higher reps are bad for the same reason. so who knows.

MrsDanner78

This is super timely for me. I just started lifting - I was doing it super casually on random days and random machines after my regular cardio workouts. But then last week I started with a full-body conditioning routine that I found on the Muscle and Strength website. The routine calls for lifting dumbbells three days a week, and most of the lifting exercises call for 3 sets of 20 reps. I am currently still dealing with a BMI > 45%, but kept seeing that people were constantly pushing heavy lifting, and I was wondering if this program was actually going to help me. After reading this, I am very convinced that I should continue on with this program as part of my weight loss and body conditioning journey. I think that once I have reduced my BMI and increased strength to a point that I am comfortable with, I will begin working on heavy lifting.

So thank you, thank you for making me feel better about what I have chosen to do at this point in time!

pjp1125

I do both. Some weeks I lift heavy, some weeks I don't. Sometimes I start heavy then do drop sets. I think both have benefits, so why not do both?

sanndandi

saving to read later

mblach

Thanks for this post!

StrongFitSexy

Excellent post!

karendee4

Thanks very informative. As a person that does not have access to heavy weights I really liked this info.

artsycella

This was a really helpful article with a great perspective. Thanks!

DragonSquatter

I really enjoyed this read. Thanks for posting it.

dbmata

In recent years, "lifting heavy" has become a ubiquitous exercise recommendation, often without regard to the background of the individual seeking advice.

And, make no mistake, there are many benefits to lifting heavier weights.

And it is the best choice for everyone, unless they need to do something else.

Azdak

In recent years, "lifting heavy" has become a ubiquitous exercise recommendation, often without regard to the background of the individual seeking advice.

And, make no mistake, there are many benefits to lifting heavier weights.

And it is the best choice for everyone, unless they need to do something else.

LaceyAnderson

Really helpful. Thank you!

grim_traveller

Bump to read later

dbmata

In recent years, "lifting heavy" has become a ubiquitous exercise recommendation, often without regard to the background of the individual seeking advice.

And, make no mistake, there are many benefits to lifting heavier weights.

And it is the best choice for everyone, unless they need to do something else.

I'm keeping that one, it would have been a good response to this thread.

Timshel_

In recent years, "lifting heavy" has become a ubiquitous exercise recommendation, often without regard to the background of the individual seeking advice.

That is 90% of the advice and arguments on here, at gyms, and in life.

cindyherrera58

Great advise! Thank you

ShadeBlossom

Saving to read later. Thanks!