Lifting weights, slow or fast?

Question

What is a better way to lift weights?

and for a 16yr old, how do I lift weights (20lb) to become toned and strong? TIPS PLEASE

Answer 1

You mean the speed at which you lift a weight, the intensity, or how often you lift?

I'm assuming you mean speed of the lift, and you should always go slow. Some people like gravity to help them in weight lifting. That is, on the way down, or the "negative", of an exercise, they simply let the weight drop to exert less energy. Not only is this putting your muscles at risk for injury, but you also aren't getting the muscle building effects of the negative.

Answer 2

Hi the best way to do weights is to lift them slow.When you lift them, do it slow and if you lower them do it slow as well, this way you work on the "up and down" movement when using weights.  Also lifting them slow will result in you muscles working harder cause there is no momentum involved and it will prevent injury.I use this with all my personal training client and they all had great results.

Answer 3

Slow is good...there is a method of lifting called explosive training but that's for the way advanced body builder who's been at it a while and even then one has to be very careful with it because of the high potential for injury..Muscles are better served during the extension phase, contracting with a load is something they are good at, loading going down isn't, but it very productive in building muscle..that's where the saying, slow is good comes from.

Answer 4

I'm assuming your talking about the tempo of the lift(speed).  You always want to the lower the weight under control, dosent have to be too slow. Then it is very important to lift it as fast as possible.  This will recruit the most muscle fibers.  You want to be strong? Lower the weight under control then explode up as fast as possible.  You wont get strong lifting a weight slowly.

Most these other answers you can tell they don't lift weights seriously.

Answer 5

Depends what you want do.

Fast and little rest--more tension on the muscles and good for fat loss (great if you want to lose weight or become a bodybuilder)

Slow with rest--good for strength

The answer: combine both. Have fast and slow days. Fast days you go lighter and don't rest, slow days you go heavier and spend lots of time in the gym.

Answer 6

Lift them slow, if you lift them to fast then you put more strain on your tendons and ligaments in your arms and you do not want to have a nasty injury and not be able to workout.  But I don't know how strong you can get off of lifting 20 lbs weights, you should invest in getting some bigger weights.