Should I lift more weight each time I go lifting?

[thesude241]

Should I expect or strive to increase my weight every time I lift? Like say, Monday I do dumbbell incline at 55lbs each hand and then Wednesday or Thursday when I go again, I should try and go up to 60lb dumbbells.

By the way, I'm 20 years old and I can do about 55lb dumbbell incline. Is that pretty good?

Updates

+1 y

So for my size, I'm about 148 pounds. And yes, my reps is about 10-12.

[wormyrug]

Well, I'd actually point out that you should probably drop down to about 3 sets of 6-8 reps if you are wanting to build muscle or get stronger as 10-12 reps generally induces a type of hypertrophy that leads to quick gains initially, but then after several weeks, you actually lose those gains (weird, isn't it?). Initially when you begin, you should be attempting to move up about 5lbs between both hands every week or so, whereas if you have been working out for a few years to build up to 55lb, it should maybe be every month that you try to move up.

And yes, 55lb dumbbell incline is good no matter your age, also, you're 148 pounds and can do that? That's very impressive, although you may need to increase your weight a bit to be able to life more.

[thesude241]

thanks man! yeah I feel like I tend to loose the fat weight and gain muscle weight. about 148-150. something like that.

[armyguy176]

when working out you need to do about 3 weeks of bulking then 3 weeks of training down.

bulking: higher weight. Your goal should be to do 10 reps. You SHOULD NOT be able to do 10 reps, but you are going to try your hardest to. This will build muscle mass. so 3 times a week lift enough weight to where you can do 8 but not quite 10 or maybe barely 10. you will eventually begin increasing weight.

training down: lower weight higher reps. same thing, but instead of lifting as much as you can, you are going to lift lower weight 20-30 reps then push through the burn and fight the urge to give up. This will tighten and tone your muscles.

[emzy-89]

I wouldn't keep building on it every day, maybe spend a week or 2 of the same weight and then over up, you don't want to do too much too fast, you could end up hurting yourself. Doing things gradually is the way to go.

[stillagoodgirl]

No I think you have to adjust to the new weight for a month and get use to it then slowly use heavier weights.

[maiez]

increase weight every other week if you are trying to bulk up. If you want to tone your muscle to make it more visible just do average / lighter weight but a lot of reps. Find a weight that you will get tired at after doing 8-10 and go slow, 3 sets. 55lb dumbbell is pretty good

[thesude241]

basically I'm trying to look like taylor lautner or those spartacus guys

[maiez]

do lots of chest, abs, and arms then. Take in more calories and raise the weight

[bassman]

Pick a wieght that you can do only 10 reps before you start to struggle. Each week try to add 5lbs and stay with the 10 reps. If you can't do 10 reps, do as many as you can..for example 5-8 reps. Stick with this weight until you easily get to 10 reps...add 5 lbs and start the process over.

[MyNameIsJonas]

You did not add your reps or sets.

If your looking to increase size 4 sets of 8-12 pyramid up in weight.

Next time you go start with 55lbs and then work up to 60lbs on the next set and 65lbs on the next 70lbs on the last. Rep at least 8, no more than 12. Do not go over 12 on first set or second set.

[martyfellow]

Weights again. You should wait to increase the weight lol. Wait until you can lift the weights three sets of five at least, before you go up in weight.

If you don't wait to increase the weight, you might easily tear a muscle and set yourself back, and you'd have to wait a long time to lift weights again.

[antonlikesmlb]

You should stick to 55 until your muscles grow cause you won't be able to have a 5 lb increase every time you go. Also 55 is pretty good but it also depends on your size and reps and sets. Cause if you're a big guy then 55 might not be a lot. Or if you're doing like one rep.

[thesude241]

i'm about 148-150 pounds and doing about 10-12 reps of 55lb

[benos4752]

You need to get a good basic program like Mark Rippetoe's "Starting Strength". Jim Wendler's "5/3/1" can be good for beginners to.

You need to be properly taking advantage of your "newbie gains" in a way that will properly build a good, strong base of muscle. Both of those programs also go into weight cycling very well.

[front2back]

Thats pretty good for your size. I''m only 16 and I can do 65 DB incline. Of course, the reps for pretty much any exercise stay at 5. 8-12 will increase muscular endurance, 1-3 will increase power. 5 is a perfect balance between the two and increases overall strength.

Always go up in weight if you can, the more weight the stronger you get.

[THE_Godfather]

There's a lot of good answers here. I take 2 1/2 lb. plates and put 2 fingers through the hole and my hand around the dumbbell handle . If you try it you'll figure it out.

Sometimes 5 lbs is too much.

[Yeahhbro]

no do it weekly nto let your muscles adjust to the weight. If you don't let your muscles adjust to the weight, you are going to get yourself hurt. And actually if I was you I would do it every two weeks, not weekly.

[Jaden69]

Well if you're trying to build muscle mass then you should definitely increase to 60 or higher until you can only do about 8-10 reps. If you're toning your muscles for a vascular look then you should continue with the 55s and 10-12 reps.

[kheserthorpe]

The simple answer is that your rep target is determined by your goals. If you can exceed that target with good form, you should go up in weight.

[douchebag4eva]

I ussualy go up in 5 pounds per side, on my 3 sets ussualy right after I go up I do 8/6/4 reps, when I get to 12/10/8 Ill go up in weight.

[Anonymous]

You want to challenge your muscles with something different each time so you don't plateau. Changing weights is a good start.

[Anonymous]

Try to keep increasing your reps til it becomes easier then up the weight

[Anonymous]

depends, are you trying to gain muscle?

[thesude241]

sure am haha

[Anonymous]

After a few weeks yes you should