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The number of sets is pretty unimportant. What matters is that you reduce the muscle's starting strength while subjecting it to significant resistance—you can do that in one set.
On decline bench press I can do three sets of 6 at 225 pretty easily but if i try to do 3 sets of 8 things get rocky...
Do I have to actually do three sets of 8 to get bigger or will 3 sets of 6 work over time!? or should I do 4 sets of 6?
Do you really think there is something magic about three sets of 8 reps?
If you want to do three sets of 8 reps, why don't you drop 5lbs.? Once you can do three sets of 220, than add 5 lbs. It sounds to me like you are not going to failure.
Location: East St. Paul 651 forever (or North St. Paul) .
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ineedhelp253
The number of sets is pretty unimportant. What matters is that you reduce the muscle's starting strength while subjecting it to significant resistance—you can do that in one set.
Can you explain that in layman's terms?
Would really like to know how much I need to do in order to get toned.
Toned is a nonsense word; it's not your fault, however. People in the fitness industry love to use nonsense to sell stuff. Toned simply means you have a lower body fat percentage and can see the muscle on your body. In other words, you have to eat right and exercise to get the "toned" look. You can just do some exercise and get the look
Tone is simply the presence of muscle in the absence of fat.
In terms of sets and reps - there's any number of ways to do it. Generally speaking, higher numbers of reps leads more to endurance, while lower numbers of reps with heavier weight leads to strength. The difference between 6 and 8 reps is, in my mind, minor and falls into the strength / hypertrophy side of things. Obviously you should use a bit more weight if you're only doing 6 reps.
It can be fun and good for your muscles to tweak sets and reps regularly.
Right now on my main exercises I am doing 3 sets of 4 at heavy weight, followed by a final "overload" set of 10 at somewhat lighter weight to finish things off. I like it.
Toned is a nonsense word; it's not your fault, however. People in the fitness industry love to use nonsense to sell stuff. Toned simply means you have a lower body fat percentage and can see the muscle on your body. In other words, you have to eat right and exercise to get the "toned" look. You can just do some exercise and get the look
Thanks for saying this. I get tired of telling people that it makes no sense. How many times have we all heard someone say:
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I don't want big muscles, I just want to get toned.
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