Is it better to lift heavier weights?

Is it better to lift heavier weights?

Heavy weights are good for developing strength and targeting specific muscles. … You can gain muscle and change the shape of your body by lifting heavier weights for fewer reps, or lighter weights for more reps, Tumminello explains. "Both are equal when it comes to gaining muscle," he says.

Why can’t I lift heavier weights?

Lifting lighter weights for more reps is great for building muscle endurance, but if you want to increase your strength, increasing your weight load is key. … That means men who can't lift heavy due to injury can still increase muscle mass and strength at a comparable rate to men who can.

Can you build muscle with lighter weights?

Training with higher reps and lighter weights led to gains in muscle size that were on par with heavier training. … In another, Japanese researchers found that training with high reps and light weights (30-40 reps per set) builds just as much muscle as low reps (8-12 reps per set) and heavier weights.