Lifting light....

beccci91

There is just something about this phrase that I don't like. According to most of you I would be classed as someone who 'lifts light' because I work with 1.5kg dumbbells BUT they kill my arms, I've always had hardly any upper body strength and it really gets to me with this stigma over what weight someone lifts at.

Will anyone else admit to 'lifting light'?

ATLMel

"lifting light" isn't an absolute. What is heavy for me is light for someone else. The concept of lifting heavy means gutting out the highest weights you can while getting in the number of reps required (almost never more than 12 IMO).

That said, I hope you're not just using those weights for curls and such. You'll be able to lift heavier with compound movements and get more bang for your buck (presses, push ups, squats, deads, etc).

wellbert

Lifting heavy, as referred to by most people here, generally means using compound multi-joint movements, typically as part of a progressive strength building program. (Although if activity doesn't attempt progress, is it even training?)

It's usually pushed hard because you can make tremendous strides in strength with these programs. Doing 1.5kg curls every other day for a year won't make you as strong as a month on one of these programs. That's why it's pushed so hard.

I'll use my wife as an example. When she started Starting Strength 7 weeks ago, she could barely push the empty barbell (45lbs/20kg.) Now she's pushing 70lb/32kg pretty easily, and the 45lb/20kg bar feels like a twig to her.

She's gone from being shaky in a BODY weight squat, to being able to sling 120lb/55kg across her back and kick its *kitten*. Again, in just 7 weeks.

Of course, (progressive)) strength training isn't for everyone. If you don't want to do it - don't do it. Don't worry about any 'stigmas' associated with it.

Bmontgomery613

Agreed. The reason there are so many programs out there is because there are so many different people. What works for one may not work for another. The only one you are accountable to is you. Do what works for you, take the advice that feels best for you and leave the rest behind.

ironanimal

Lifting light is a relative term. If you can do more than 12 reps of something, it's probably too light. Of course your arms can be tired from any weight - I could bicep curl 1kg dumbbells and eventually reach fatigue, but it would take about 300 reps. Whereas, if I curl 20kg, 5 reps is enough for one set.

Jugie12

The terms "heavy" and "light" are deeply subjective when it comes to the fitness world -what is heavy for one person is light to another. I can kill myself with 100lb shrugs but the dude who does it next will crank out 4 set of 400lbs without missing a beat. You do what you do. Just never stop making progress.

YepLilly

The way I see it:

Lifting light means lifting around 12 or more reps before reaching fatigue. More reps, lighter weight.

Lifting heavy means lifting around 8-10 reps before reaching fatigue. Less reps, heavier weight.

It all of course depends on the person. Lifting heavy to someone might mean 5lbs, while to someone else it might mean 20lbs. It's still heavy to each of them.