In short: if your goal is to build serious strength and bone density, lifting heavy is an efficient way to do it. But if you can't lift heavy or it's not your thing, please don't think lifting lighter weights is a complete waste of time.
So, in general, low reps with heavy weight tends to increase muscle mass, while high reps with light weight increases muscle endurance. This doesn't mean that you have to rely on one method exclusively. Alternating between the two may be the best approach for long-term success.
While heavy resistance training focuses on increasing muscle mass, lighter weights elongate and tone your muscles.
It is possible to build muscle with light weights as long as you do an adequate amount of volume, train frequently enough, eat enough calories (especially protein), and always use proper form. Slowing down your lifts and increasing your time under tension is another excellent way to build muscle with light weights.
Lifting heavy, relatively speaking, is ideal for preserving strength and muscle mass during the cutting phase. Many novices and ill-informed individuals will lift with “light weights and high reps” thinking this will give them a “toned” look. While this is better than not lifting, this can lead to some muscle loss.
It is a myth that one must lift more weight to bulk up. If you're regular and patient with lighter weights, you can achieve similar results. It all comes down to two factors: the number of reps, and the way you perform them in order to achieve muscle fatigue.
By the end of the study, those who lifted heavier weights for fewer reps showed greater increases in strength. However, those who lifted lighter weights for more reps showed greater increases in muscle thickness.
Research suggests lifting smaller weights and doing more repetitions (or, in gym parlance, “reps”) can have a role to play – but it all depends on your goals. In short: if your goal is to build serious strength and bone density, lifting heavy is an efficient way to do it.
Lifting weights that are too heavy can cause muscle and joint damage. Doing so can also cause spinal injuries such as herniated discs.
One method is to figure out your 1-rep max for each exercise (the most you can lift for a single rep) and then work at 70 to 80 percent of that weight, the recommended range for hypertrophy training.
More repetitions with lighter weights can build muscle as well as heavier weights -- assuming they are done to the point of exercise-induced fatigue. And fatigue is the important point. That means even with light weight, the last two to three reps should be hard.
If you've been training properly for less than a year, perform 10-15 sets per muscle group per week. If you've been training properly for one to five years, perform 15-20 sets per week. If you're very advanced and have been training properly for over five years, perform 20-25 sets per week.
Resistance training for muscle gain
Train just two or three times per week to give your muscles time to recover. If you're tempted to train more often, remember that muscle growth occurs during recovery. Choose compound exercises that work multiple major muscle groups, for example, the squat and bench press.
Is 7.5 kg dumbbell enough? 7kg Dumbbells are great for training thighs and biceps, but they are limited in other areas as well. For example; it is impossible to perform shoulder presses with this weight alone because it would not be heavy enough, and there is no suitable workout for strengthening the back.
Reason 1: Lifting Heavy With Not Enough Volume
One possible reason your muscle is not growing could be that your training is more geared toward improving your strength vs hypertrophy (i.e. muscle growth). You want to fully activate your whole muscle to maximize growth.
The reason many people fail at bulking is because they aren't training hard enough. If you are training hard, eating a little more food than normal isn't going to turn you into a sumo wrestler. On the other hand, undereating may substantially limit your progress.
The longer and more consistently you work out, the more your strength gains will come from true muscle growth. Most beginners will see noticeable muscle growth within eight weeks, while more experienced lifters will see changes in three to four weeks.
Studies show that regularly taking creatine, weightlifting and exercising can help increase muscle growth in people 18 to 30 years old. However, there isn't enough research to say that creatine helps develop muscle growth in people older than 65 or people with diseases that affect their muscles.
At least he's trying! The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) will break this down, suggesting the following set ranges: 2-3 will help build muscular endurance (12 to 20+ reps) 3-6 build muscular hypertrophy (6 to 12 reps)
To increase strength and power, the best rest period is 2-5 minutes between sets. To increase hypertrophy (muscle growth), the best rest period is 30-90 seconds between sets. To increase muscular endurance, the best rest period is 30 seconds or less between sets.
If your objective is strength or power (think: heavy lifting), the textbook advice is to perform 3 to 5 sets of 2 to 6 reps per exercise. For hypertrophy (building muscle), the sweet spot is 3 to 4 sets of 6 to 12 reps. And if your objective is muscular endurance, shoot for 2 to 3 sets of 12 to 20 reps.
Multiple sets are more beneficial than single sets because you can lift heavy lifts for more repetitions without exhausting your muscles or getting injured. It helps you push the same set of muscles that may increase endurance and stamina.
For new gym goers or those who haven't been for a while, 10kg dumbbells (22lbs) is a sufficient weight to notice some difference in your appearance initially, but over time, you will need to increase the weight to keep on the muscle-gaining path.