Are Your Weights Too Light? 3 Ways to Know When to Go Heavier

Going to the gym can sometimes seem as mystical as teleporting to Asgard (if you’re a fan of the Marvel Universe, you’ll know what we’re talking about). We get that. There are just so many unanswered questions: When do I work out? What exercises? How many sets and reps? Cardio first or last? Why is that guy wearing jeans in the gym? Is she wearing Lululemons or that new Kate Hudson brand? Chances are high that there is one important question you’ve probably never asked and likely don’t know how to answer. That question? When should you increase the weight that you lift? This isn’t about getting bulky and building big muscles. Lifting weights helps you burn fat and tones your body while helping you get lean and healthy! Here are three ways to tell when you should up the ante with your fitness by lifting heavier weights.

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You’re swinging the weight around

If the weight you’re lifting seems more like a child’s toy than something that belongs in the gym, you need to up the weight! According to certified personal trainer Terry Asher, owner of GymJunkies.com, “Lifting a weight that is too light for you is counterproductive to your strength gains, fat loss, and overall health.” In fact, Asher believes “you should not train with a weight that doesn’t require your full concentration and strength to move safely before you even start your sets.” If it’s so light that you don’t need to focus, chances are you’ll miss out on the benefits in the big picture of your overall health and fitness. The moral of the story here? Lifting a weight that’s light enough to play with is just that, play – not working out.

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You aren’t feeling it

Do you work out and not feel your muscles contracting through each rep? Well, if that burn is missing, it’s time for you to up the weight you’re lifting! According to certified trainer Kendall Wood, NASM and coauthor of Core Fitness Solution, “If you’re not feeling each contraction on every rep of your workout, you’re not doing everything you can to spark positive changes in your body shape, fat loss, or strength gains.” The old adage “No pain, no gain” is more than just a catchphrase. “A real workout means putting in effort in the gym, and that means feeling the burn while you’re training and subsequent soreness the next day,” Wood said….

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