MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

5 Reasons You Should Try Eccentric Training

5 Reasons You Should Try Eccentric Training

Sacha Baron Cohen Has Seriously Hit The Weight Room For His Role In 'The Spy'

Sacha Baron Cohen Has Seriously Hit The Weight Room For His Role In 'The Spy'

How To Tell If You're Lifting Too Light In The Gym

How To Tell If You're Lifting Too Light In The Gym

Why Every Man Should Be Lifting Weights Regularly

Why Every Man Should Be Lifting Weights Regularly

{headline}

{headline}

Underwater Strength Training Is Becoming A Big Thing, And We're Intrigued

Underwater Strength Training Is Becoming A Big Thing, And We're Intrigued

The Wolverine Heavy-Lifting Workout, Direct From His Trainer

The Wolverine Heavy-Lifting Workout, Direct From His Trainer

Lift Some Weights To Lift Your Mood, Say Scientists

Lift Some Weights To Lift Your Mood, Say Scientists

{headline}

{headline}

Dreams Do Come True: You Can Blast Belly Fat... Without Cardio

Dreams Do Come True: You Can Blast Belly Fat... Without Cardio

15 Minutes To A Swimmer's Body

15 Minutes To A Swimmer's Body

Weights Or Cardio? Two Tribes Go To War

Weights Or Cardio? Two Tribes Go To War

Nail The Power Clean With These Pro Tips

Nail The Power Clean With These Pro Tips

Summer Guns By New MH Fitness Director: Chief Brabon

Summer Guns By New MH Fitness Director: Chief Brabon

3 Exercises That Will Turn Your Forearms Into Firearms!

3 Exercises That Will Turn Your Forearms Into Firearms!

Are You Lifting Too Light On These 3 Exercises?

Are You Lifting Too Light On These 3 Exercises?

  1. Home
  2. Fitness

Will Going Heavy Build Muscle Size Faster?

There are guidelines that will make lighter work of going heavy to build more muscle - by Phil Sims
  • 16 Apr 2018
Will Going Heavy Build Muscle Size Faster?
Getty Images

Enter the barbell-swinging contest on your own terms by knowing exactly how hard to push it. These guidelines will make lighter work of heavy going to build more muscle per Titanic rep.

LIFT BIG, REST BIG

Piling on the plates will blitz your central nervous system, so a standard 60-second rest won’t cut it. Even if you don’t feel fatigued, take a seat for 3-5 minutes; the University of Utah found sitting encourages recovery better than standing.

WRAP UP

Knee straps support the joint during big lifts, while belts aid your lower back. Plus Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found belts improve your strength by increasing intra-abdominal pressure.

Man Exercising GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

EMBRACE YOGA

Lifting heavy stresses your muscles big time. Sandwich your weights session with downward dogs and warrior poses to reduce back pain . . and chill out a tad.

BURN AT BOTH ENDS

Training for a big performance means increasing strength throughout the whole movement. Focus on lower weights and a slow tempo to improve the bottom end of a rep; use dynamic lifts to better the top part.

Deadlift GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

DOUBLE UP

Attempting a 1-rep max holds no real benefits for anyone other than pro weightlifters. And it’s a shortcut to nasty injuries, too. Heavier weights are fine – and great for packing on bulk – but stick to a 2-3-rep max tops. Setting a PB in this range is where the rewards lie.

Dump GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

BACK TO BASICS

Going barefoot encourages a natural ankle movement when squatting, while studies show it also makes deadlifts more efficient. Keep the rest of your kit on, please.

SPOT THE LIFTER

Boldly going where you’ve never gone before is a risky business. To avoid anything worse than a red face, train with a buddy when shooting for a PB – it’s safer, and gives you an even bigger rush of endorphins, according to the University of Oxford.

  • News
  • Fitness
  • Exercise
  • Strength Training
  • Bodybuilding Workouts
  • Resistance Training

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

5 Reasons You Should Try Eccentric Training

5 Reasons You Should Try Eccentric Training

Sacha Baron Cohen Has Seriously Hit The Weight Room For His Role In 'The Spy'

Sacha Baron Cohen Has Seriously Hit The Weight Room For His Role In 'The Spy'

How To Tell If You're Lifting Too Light In The Gym

How To Tell If You're Lifting Too Light In The Gym

Why Every Man Should Be Lifting Weights Regularly

Why Every Man Should Be Lifting Weights Regularly

{headline}

{headline}

Underwater Strength Training Is Becoming A Big Thing, And We're Intrigued

Underwater Strength Training Is Becoming A Big Thing, And We're Intrigued

The Wolverine Heavy-Lifting Workout, Direct From His Trainer

The Wolverine Heavy-Lifting Workout, Direct From His Trainer

Lift Some Weights To Lift Your Mood, Say Scientists

Lift Some Weights To Lift Your Mood, Say Scientists

{headline}

{headline}

Dreams Do Come True: You Can Blast Belly Fat... Without Cardio

Dreams Do Come True: You Can Blast Belly Fat... Without Cardio

15 Minutes To A Swimmer's Body

15 Minutes To A Swimmer's Body

Weights Or Cardio? Two Tribes Go To War

Weights Or Cardio? Two Tribes Go To War

Nail The Power Clean With These Pro Tips

Nail The Power Clean With These Pro Tips

Summer Guns By New MH Fitness Director: Chief Brabon

Summer Guns By New MH Fitness Director: Chief Brabon

3 Exercises That Will Turn Your Forearms Into Firearms!

3 Exercises That Will Turn Your Forearms Into Firearms!

Are You Lifting Too Light On These 3 Exercises?

Are You Lifting Too Light On These 3 Exercises?

MensHealth
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe to Digital
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe to Digital
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Women's Health

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Men's Health

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now