Try these total-body dumbbell moves to mix up your routine:
That said, there is one important perk for those who don’t change up their resistance: muscular endurance. The term describes your muscles’ ability to produce force over a long period of time, and it’s crucial to intense and long-duration exercise, like a marathon. “Muscular endurance also helps us get through our busy days with more energy, better posture, and decreased risk of injury,” says Crockford.
You’ll know if your muscular endurance has improved by how burnt out your muscles are during one set at your go-to weight. In other words, if you can handle 16 reps of, say, a shoulder press when formerly you could eke out only 12, then congrats—your muscular endurance is on its way up. Sticking with the same amount of resistance and increasing your number of reps is the best way to track that progress. (The Slim, Sexy, Strong Workout DVD is the fast, flexible workout you’ve been waiting for!)
If your goal is to look more toned, though, you have to go up in resistance, says Crockford. Crockford recommends the “2×2 Rule,” which basically means that if you’re able to lift two more reps than you intended during two consecutive training sessions, then it’s time to add weight. “Increasing by 5 percent is generally an appropriate rate of progression,” she says. If those middle-weight increments aren’t available, try the next-closest amount (so 12.5 pounds if 10.5 isn’t available).
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Crockford adds that it’s important to keep your personal goal in mind when you’re strength training so that you format your workout routines accordingly. The American Council on Exercise recommends these rep/set counts. (It should go without saying that higher rep counts require lighter weights.)
General Fitness: 1-2 sets, 8-15 reps, 30-90 sec rest
Muscular Endurance: 2-3 sets, 12 or more reps, 30 sec or less rest
Hypertrophy: 3-6 sets, 6-12 reps, 30-90 sec rest
Strength: 2-6 sets, 6 or fewer reps, 2-5 min rest
And there you go! A reason to put a little more thought into your sweat sesh than you do your morning oatmeal.