I always heard people saying lifting heavier weights helps build muscle mass while doing more repetitions helps improve muscle definition. I have no trouble understanding the former. But how does one rationalize the latter? In the past, I used to think that doing more repetitions helps burn away fat at the target area, thereby making the muscle looks more define. But after reading answers to this question, it seems the common consensus is that there is no way to target fat loss. So, how does doing more repetitions make the muscle looks more define? Or is this just a myth?
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4I'm not sure about the definition part actually. If you want to train for strength you lift heavy weights, if you want to train for size (bodybuilding) you lift not quite as heavy weights for more reps. They might be mistaking 'more definition' with 'good for bodybuilders'– Robin AsheCommented Aug 23, 2012 at 4:50
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I was under the impression doing lower reps with correct proper form will stimulate greater muscle hypertrophy due to the muscle lifting more weight than with higher reps and tearing the muscle fibers even more, allowing them to repair bigger and stronger.– user4438Commented Oct 11, 2012 at 19:05
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Can you explain what you mean by "definition"?– JohnCommented Jun 27, 2016 at 7:31
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2 Answers
Correct, there is no way to burn fat from a specific location.
Doing more reps of a certain exercise, lets say dumbbell curls, will make your main bicep's "fibers" work more; when the "main" fibers get tired, adjacent fibers are woken up and put to work. So, when you increase the number of reps you force your nervous system to activate more fibers in the last few reps. This provokes muscle hypertrophy, your muscle grows (main and adjacent fibers). That is when you start to see a small curved bulk of muscle in your arm. Because men store little fat in the arm, the change is noticeable in a very short period of time; two weeks can be enough.
About your muscles shape, you can't change it, your genetics determine that. However, when you make it grow it is easier to notice its shape, like in the case of the biceps. Unfortunately for other muscles that is not enough; even if you work them really hard, you won't notice them. This is the case of the abdomen. I know guys that have super big and strong abs, but they don't have a six-pack because its all covered with fat.
More reps improve definition, because you activate sleepy fibers; they grow and give a bigger better look to the whole muscle. But, this works only to some extent.
The only thing that will really give you muscle definition is dieting. If you want to see some evidence, search YouTube for "off season bodybuilding". Most of them look fat, even though they have huge and nicely shaped muscles. They train like that and then go through a special low carb diet before competitions.
Some of them will even stop drinking regular water and drink distilled water instead. This dehydrates your body and gives you even more definition; Of course, this is a dangerous practice and people have died for taking this to the extreme
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The last paragraph hints that drinking distilled water may be dangerous. There is no scientific evidence that this is true. Commented Feb 10, 2017 at 20:57
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1> It has been adequately demonstrated that consuming water of low mineral content has a negative effect on homeostasis mechanisms, compromising the mineral and water metabolism in the body. quora.com/Is-drinking-distilled-water-safe– givanseCommented Feb 11, 2017 at 17:58
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After skimming over the WHO study I retract my previous statement. There seems to be evidence that drinking distilled water is harmful to ones health. Still I think that
people have died for taking this to the extremeoverexaggerates the dangers because it suggest that drinking a few liters for a few days will lead to certain death, which is not true. Almost everything taken to an extreme is fatal, thus this is not a special property of distilled water, although I agree now that here death will occur sooner than with normal water. Commented Feb 12, 2017 at 19:45
By lifting weights you will:
- Get stronger (higher bone density, stronger CNS)
- Burn calories/lose weight/reduce body-fat percentage.
- Gain muscle mass
"Definition" of a muscle is 100% determined by the amount of bodyfat that covers it. A lot of young guys look very defined when they are 16-19 because they have a very low bodyfat percentage and as a result you can see their muscles. Bodybuilders use fasting and dehydration to achieve the same look when working up to a competition. To get "definition" you need to diet to reduce body fat.
On the subject of high reps to build muscle size. There is a lot of theories and science behind why bodybuilders find higher reps at their 60-80% 1RM to be better for building muscle than low reps at 85-95% that powerlifters use. Currently, it is believed that lower reps at higher weight builds strength more optimally than higher reps at lower weight which builds muscle size more optimally. This chart may help:
When you are working out, if you are doing high repetitions with medium weight then you will get a "pump" where your muscles are engorged with blood, this last for about a hour or so.
For most people in the bell curve of bodies, following a simple strength routine like stronglifts combined with a sensible diet plan would give you good results in both strength and "definition".
