How many sets and reps should I do as a beginner?

Asked by: Christopher Rogers

To start, choose one to two exercises per muscle group, aiming for 3 sets and 10 to 12 reps as a beginner.

How many sets should a beginner lift?

For beginners or people looking to maintain overall fitness, a good goal is to do 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps. This means choosing a weight that allows you to complete this many reps without struggling to finish the set.

How many reps should I do beginners to build muscle?

To gain muscle: Three or more sets of 6 to 8 reps to fatigue. For beginners, give yourself several weeks of conditioning before going to this level. You may need a spotter for many exercises. For health and endurance: One to 3 sets of 12 to 16 reps using enough weight that you can only complete the desired reps.

How many workouts should a beginner do?

According to these recommendations, beginner exercisers should work up to three to four 40-minute gym sessions per week. If that doesn’t seem realistic, remember, completing a 15-minute workout is better than skipping a 40-minute workout entirely.

How many sets should a beginner do a week?

10-20 sets

So we know based on the 2017 meta-analysis mentioned earlier that roughly 10-20 sets per muscle per week is the sweet spot for maximizing growth. With beginners being at the lower end of this range and more experienced lifters being at the higher end of this range.

What should a beginner lift?

You want to start with a weight that you can lift 10 to 15 times with proper form. Begin with 1 or 2 sets of 10 to 15 repetitions, and slowly progress to 3 sets or more. Gradually increase the weight.

How should a beginner lift weights?

This time you just change the position you're going to go into a hammer curl up the middle of your sagittal line your mid-sagittal. Line right here draw that line between your chest and your abdomen.

How do beginners get big?

Grow outside of the gym. They don't grow when you work out working out is the stimulus. To get your body increasing protein synthesis. So you build muscles.

Should beginners do high reps?

In general, yes. Absolute beginners would begin by building up muscular endurance which involves a higher rep range and lighter weights. If you are unsure or not able to work with a professional then bias towards bodyweight training such as pullups, pushups, squats, lunges, etc….for several weeks to build a base.

Is 3 sets of 5 reps good?

The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) will break this down, suggesting the following set ranges: 2-3 will help build muscular endurance (12 to 20+ reps) 3-6 build muscular hypertrophy (6 to 12 reps) 3-5 build muscular power (3 to 5 reps)

Is 4 sets of 10 reps too much?

4 sets x 10 reps = 40 reps



Moderate to low intensity. Most ideal for building muscle, but also suited for endurance.

Does 4/6 reps build muscle?

Sets of anywhere from 4–40 reps will stimulate muscle growth quite well, but most research shows that doing 6–20 reps per set is the most efficient way to build muscle. Bodybuilders often use the middle of that range, favouring 8–12 reps per set.

Is a 30 minute workout enough to build muscle?

When it comes to strength training, 30 minutes is the perfect amount of time to effectively work all the big muscle groups; the legs, the chest and the back.

How long should I lift weights for as a beginner?

Donner suggests that beginners start with a 30- to 35-minute workout. Try to choose weights that allow you to perform 3 sets of 10 repetitions for each exercise. Take short 30- to 40-second rest periods between sets.

How many kg should a beginner lift?

In the beginning, you can lift 2 to 5 kilos, depending on the muscle group and with the time you can add the weight.

Should beginners do high reps or low reps?

In fact, one study showed that after 8 weeks of strength training, those who lifted heavier weights with less reps had more strength. But the study also showed that people who lifted with lower weights, but high reps, had more muscle-building activity.

Should beginners do high reps?

In general, yes. Absolute beginners would begin by building up muscular endurance which involves a higher rep range and lighter weights. If you are unsure or not able to work with a professional then bias towards bodyweight training such as pullups, pushups, squats, lunges, etc….for several weeks to build a base.

Can you get ripped with light weights?

You can train with lighter weights without missing out on any gains. Some people like to say that lifting heavy weights is the only way to build muscle. High reps and light weights might improve your endurance, these people argue, but they’re not going to make your muscles any bigger.

Is 4 reps too low?

Sets of anywhere from 4–40 reps will stimulate muscle growth quite well, but most research shows that doing 6–20 reps per set is the most efficient way to build muscle. Bodybuilders often use the middle of that range, favouring 8–12 reps per set.

Do high reps get you ripped?

Training with higher reps can help you get ripped as higher rep training allows you to achieve higher volumes by increasing the amount of reps you perform, which can increase your overall workload. So, do high reps help you get ripped? Yes, but getting ripped with weights is not exclusive to higher rep training.

Is it better to lift heavy or light?

Lifting for pure strength is best partnered with heavy weights. “If you’re trying for strength, or your max force output, the heavier the weight, the more strength gains you’ll have, along with size gains,” Tuminello says. It’s also super time efficient.

Do I have to lift heavy to look good?

advertisement. Depending on your goals, muscle growth does not depend on the amount of weight you lift. It is a myth that one must lift more weight to bulk up. If you’re regular and patient with lighter weights, you can achieve similar results.

Is it better to lift heavy or light weights to gain muscle?

So, in general, low reps with heavy weight tends to increase muscle mass, while high reps with light weight increases muscle endurance. This doesn’t mean that you have to rely on one method exclusively. Alternating between the two may be the best approach for long-term success.

How can I build my arms fast?

Or add additional exercises to gradually build up to roughly 20 or more weekly sets for the biceps. And triceps depending. On how frequently you train them which includes the indirect.

What weight should I lift for my size?

The amount of weight you should lift depends on what your primary fitness goal is. If your goal is to build strength, then your weights should be heavy enough that you can only perform 4-6 repetitions per set. If your goal is to build muscular size, then you should only be able to perform 7-12 repetitions per set.

How many sets should I do to gain muscle?

In order to get bigger and stronger, you must ensure your muscles work harder than they are used to. Generally, between 6-12 reps for 3-6 sets will help to build overall muscle size.

Is 3 sets of 5 reps enough?

If you’re trying to build muscle and get bigger, doing sets of 3 or sets of 5 or sets of 10 will ALL help you get bigger, if you’re eating enough to get bigger! If you’re trying to lose weight, it doesn’t matter if you do sets of 15 or sets of 5 if you are consistently overeating by 1,000 calories a day.

Is 4 sets of 10 reps too much?

4 sets x 10 reps = 40 reps



Moderate to low intensity. Most ideal for building muscle, but also suited for endurance.

Should I increase reps or sets?

VeryWell Fit reports that the American College of Sports Medicine recommends higher reps (10-15) per set with lighter weights to support muscle maintenance and 8-12 reps per set with moderate weights to build strength.

Is a 30 minute workout enough to build muscle?

When it comes to strength training, 30 minutes is the perfect amount of time to effectively work all the big muscle groups; the legs, the chest and the back.

Which builds muscle faster reps or weight?

Generally, exercises with higher reps are used to improve muscular endurance, while higher weights with fewer reps are used to increase muscle size and strength.