How Heavy Should You Lift in a Full-Body Workout?
Whether you go heavy or light isn't the most important thing. How hard you push each set is what matters.
A question I get a lot when it comes to full-body training is whether you should use lighter weights because you’re working your whole body in one workout. The short answer is no. You can use both heavy and light weights.
To understand why, look at two things: how hard you push each set and how much work you do for each muscle group. Both help determine how demanding a workout is, regardless of whether you’re lifting heavy or going lighter for more reps.
Does a Lighter Weight Make the Workout Easier?
The amount of weight you lift doesn’t tell the whole story about how hard you’re training. I look at how much effort you put into each set: Did you take it to failure? Or did you stop five reps short? That makes a difference, regardless of whether the weight is heavy or light.
A lighter weight taken to failure is no easier than a heavier weight taken to failure. In fact, high-rep sets can take longer to recover from. You may need more time between sets after a light, high-rep set than after a heavy set with fewer reps. You may also need more time between workouts.
The amount of work you do for each muscle
Access Every Article, Workout, Meal Plan, & App For $1
Related Articles
-
Train Like Jim: Two Home Gym Full-Body WorkoutsTrisets and giant sets make this pair of workouts highly intense, not to mention time-efficient, to promote both fat loss and muscle-building.
-
Over 60? You Can Build Muscle With Full-Body TrainingThe best workout split has less to do with age than with your training experience, goals, and recovery.
-
How to Fit a Full-Body Workout Into a Busy Schedule—and a Packed GymA packed weight room and a packed schedule don’t have to derail your training. Here’s how to keep moving and get the work done.
-
Best Rep Range for Muscle After 60: Heavy or Light Weights?A 62-year-old asks whether he should lift heavy or stick with lighter weights. Here's my answer.
Foundations
-
Featured Meal Plans
-
Muscle Hypertrophy: Build Muscle Fast
-
Rethink Your Rep Range
-
The Science of Strength Bands
Training
- How Heavy Should You Lift in a Full-Body Workout?
- Best Rep Range for Muscle After 60: Heavy or Light Weights?
- How to Fit a Full-Body Workout Into a Busy Schedule—and a Packed Gym
- 3 Things to Know Before Doing Smith Machine Rows
- Should You Train When You’re Sore or Skip Your Workout?
Nutrition
- How High School Athletes Should Use Protein Powders
- How Many Carbs Should You Eat to Build Muscle?
- Do Healthy Fats Help You Build Muscle?
- How Often Should You Eat Protein to Build Muscle?
- How Much Protein Do You Really Need to Build Muscle?
Supplementation
- 5 Creatine Myths Debunked: Kidneys, Hair Loss and More
- 3 Things to Know Before Taking More Creatine
- The 3 Best Supplements to Build Muscle on a Budget
- How High School Athletes Should Use Protein Powders
- How Often Should You Eat Protein to Build Muscle?
Health
- Can Steroids Cause Your Organs to Grow?
- What Is a Normal Testosterone Level for Men? Here’s What the Research Says
- 5 Ways to Burn Fat Today
- High-Protein Diets and Kidney Disease
- The Truth About Trenbolone
