High Rep Low Weight Training

High Rep Low Weight Training is a practice in which an athlete lifts moderately heavy weights for a longer sequence of repetitions instead of the “low rep, high weight” regimen that forms the backbone of most weight training.

The latter type of training is seen to quickly build muscle mass in a short amount of time by stressing the muscles and forcing them to build more muscle tissue in response. The opposite practice is largely seen as pointless by individuals focused on increasing muscle mass in their weight training, with little debate as to the worthiness of high rep training. But like more standardized aerobic training such as jogging and bicycling, high reps combined with moderate weight can serve to help increase athletic endurance and aid in the muscle’s ability to recover from an intense workout.

Additionally, the incorporation of low weight training can improve general fitness, as it tends to stimulate a different kind of muscle fiber than its “high rep” counterpart. “Fast twitch” fibers contract very powerfully with rapid fatigue, and are the main focus in building muscle mass for athletes using “low rep” exercise to attain a large physique. But “slow twitch” fibers, which contract with less force and fatigue more slowly, can be built through both aerobic exercise and high rep training. The ultimate result of employing a little of each kind of exercise is not only a more complete workout, but overall increased muscle mass through the stimulation of both types of muscle fiber.

Related Information

Aerobic Weight Training
Aerobic weight training is a great way to include cardio in your free weights workout.

High Intensity Weight Training
High intensity weight training focuses on finding the maximum lifting ability of the athletes who practice it.