weights with women.....less weight and more reps?

What is more effective for women? I am trying increase strength. Is is better for women to do less reps with higher weight, or less weight and more reps? I am confused!

The weight should be heavy regardless of rep count. Naturally, what you can lift for five reps will be less that what you can do for eight.

Also, I fixed it for you.

It takes time for a man and a woman to bulk up, but yes a woman can bulk up. You don't even have to lift weights to tone up. You can use your own body bka body weight or you can even use resistance bands. I don't lift heavy, I don't believe in lifting heavy.

What kind of workouts are you doing or looking to do?

Unless you're injecting your self with testosterone you're not going to get bulky. It's hard enough for men to get bulky let alone women. I would suggest you read something like 'New Rules of Lifting for Women'. It'll explain all about that.

My most dramatic results in losing inches, fat loss, and a tight lean composition came when I switched to lifting with heavier weights, lower reps, and added in some intense cardio.

Lower weights many reps, resistance bands, did do "some" but workouts took me twice as long, and results were much less dramatic, both in body tightness, overall leanness, fat loss, and less jiggles..

I did lower weights, more reps for years, body weight only, cardio only - never was happy with the results, even when I did lose weight. Still was not tight, still had jiggle....

Heavy weights, made a hugh difference in results, and appearance overall.

Please don't believe the myth of "light weight, high reps." And there really isn't such a thing as "toning." 5 lb dumbbells and 30 reps isn't going to do much to reshape your body. Go as heavy as possible while maintaining good form and try working with the rep scheme: 12, 10, 8, 6. On compound lifts such as squats, deadlifts, and bench....a 5 x 5 rep/set routine has worked best for me when trying to increase strength and build muscle. On assisting exercises for tri's/bi's...that's when I do the 12, 10, 8, 6.

There is no such thing as "tone". You either gain muscle, or you maintain/strengthen what muscle you have. Heavy weights are the only way to go. And by heavy, I don't mean as much as you can possibly lift at one time. I mean heavy enough that almost can't complete the last rep in a set of 8-12 reps. Generally, you should be doing that much weight, 3 sets of 8-12 reps, and a full-body (by full body, I mean 2 exercises for each muscle group) workout 3 times per week.
Read these- all of them, or find the parts in them you want to learn about. Most accurate info I've ever heard.
http://www.acaloriecounter.com/building-muscle.php
http://www.acaloriecounter.com/weight-loss.php#section15

Toning does exist. A person doesn't have to lift heavy.

yes please google it bc everyones opinion is diff...for me what ive learned n used over the years n lost 90lbs is not "heavy" but not light...example 3sets of 10-12reps of a acceptable weight to where by the 10-12 rep it is hard...rest for a min theb do next set...by 3rd set u r really pushing....after time ull b strengthened n used to that weight so thenu can add more reps or a smaller bit mire weight. just me personally, ive never used more than 30 on biceps n triceps....legs r diff...i like my curves n want more muscle mass there so i do heavier weights, plus usually womens legs r stronger than their arms. make sure u do a little in each area to get tone all over. happy workouts!

yes please google it bc everyones opinion is diff...for me what ive learned n used over the years n lost 90lbs is not "heavy" but not light...example 3sets of 10-12reps of a acceptable weight to where by the 10-12 rep it is hard...rest for a min theb do next set...by 3rd set u r really pushing....after time ull b strengthened n used to that weight so thenu can add more reps or a smaller bit mire weight. just me personally, ive never used more than 30 on biceps n triceps....legs r diff...i like my curves n want more muscle mass there so i do heavier weights, plus usually womens legs r stronger than their arms. make sure u do a little in each area to get tone all over. happy workouts!

Google will also give you a variety of opinions.
And what you are describing is exactly what people are saying to do when they are talking about lifting heavy.

This is the link on stacey Jetscreaming is talking about
http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

First of all, there's no such thing as toning. You are either building muscle or you're not. With high reps (15+) and low weight, you are building the muscle fibers that are more specific to muscular endurance. With heavy weight and lower reps (like no more then 6 reps per set), then you are building the muscle fibers that are more specific to strength. Moderate weight and 8-12 reps per set is more for hypertrophy (bulking), but you are actually storing more glycogen and water in the sarcoplasm to cause the initial bulking not really adding extra muscle fibers.

ETA: Ideally, you should do some of each to get the most well rounded and beneficial workout program.

It's funny how people think they know me and my results. Everyone on here is giving their opinion. A lot of people doesn't like the fact that I'm against lifting heavy and I don't have to. I don't have to prove anything to anyone. That's why so many people go on ignore.

People just have to look at your ticker, (which you put there) to see your success thus far....

I can only speak from my own experience but I had great results lifting light-ish weights doing lots of reps - circuit style workouts as well as body pump. Unfortunately when I then got into heavy lifting, I eventually ended up injured after about a year or so even though I've been told by all of my instructors that my form is flawless. I didn't find the heavy lifting made any difference to the body I had already shaped from light lifting.

Bump because I saw a beast of a woman at the gym!! And I don't want to turn into that!!

Bump because I saw a beast of a woman at the gym!! And I don't want to turn into that!!

It takes the right genetics, huge amount of steroids, testosterone pills or injections, years of training & at least 6 hours in the gym everyday lifting heavy weights for you to turn into a female Arnold Schwarzenegger. In short, what you're fearing of is very impossible for ordinary women like us to achieve without some "help". And this is coming from someone who is an intermediate weight lifter but I never even got close to these hulk hogan gals.