Gaining Strength: Lifting Weights For Strength (Revisiting)

Think you know weightlifting? Even most veteran weightlifters and bodybuilders have strength training all wrong. Sure, they do the right basic exercises, but they do the wrong sets and reps. How?

Building strength and size alone involves 2 physical components (in addition to the ever-present mental mindset). What are they? Easy. Gaining strength in the gym (WORKOUT ANYTIME/Douglasville in my case) means strengthening tendons and basic body frame work, and also strengthening muscle.

The fault of most weightlifters wanting to become stronger is that they think strength is all about muscle growth. But, no; it is definitely not.

When extremely heavy weights are used for lower reps (1-5) the majority of the stress and load falls upon the tendons and compensatory aspects of the body. Therefore, these heavy weights and low repetitions do the job! (Use fewer sets, maybe 5-6 per bodypart - once every 8-10 days.)

Then, to isolate strengthening the muscles themselves, lower weights and slightly higher reps should be used so that the tendons and body do not naturally take-over most of the load. Understand? 

Breaking-down the muscle itself happens when weights are lower, and reps are in the 5-8 range. Modest gains are also made with up to 12 reps, as the tendons do little work in this rep range. Perform these reps and sets on different days than the heavy sets. (Do 6-8 sets per muscle group - 2x in 8-10 days.)

Give this method a try, and you will likely experience strength gains within 2-3 weeks, and onward. Happy lifting...

Jimmy Hall is a professional business and personal writer (404-580-1501) that writes business plans, resumes, web content, and most other types of copy... He is also an avid lifter, at WORKOUT ANYTIME in Douglasville, Georgia (770-947-3600).