| One of the most sought after bodybuilding goals is | | | | technique will work against this very goal by harming |
| definition, where body fat is shed so that muscles | | | | muscle, as higher reps have no more of a positive |
| appear far more visibly impressive, yet exactly how is | | | | impact on muscle definition than low reps, but they do |
| such a goal achieved while maintaining precious muscle | | | | offer a lower level of overload and fatigue, limiting |
| mass? This question has left many bodybuilders | | | | muscle gains, and risking muscle mass when following |
| confused and extremely frustrated as they | | | | a lower calorie diet for fat loss. |
| experience significant muscle loss when attempting to | | | | Therefore, a bodybuilder should continue to train with a |
| enhance definition. While some may understand that | | | | proper combination of high and low reps in order to |
| improving muscle definition is contingent upon modifying | | | | preserve muscle mass while working towards |
| specific diet variables for significant fat loss, others feel | | | | definition, and focus on modifying diet variables to |
| as if a change in weight training techniques is the | | | | encourage fat loss, which is the key behind improving |
| primary fuel for improving muscle definition. When | | | | definition in all muscle groups. But is there a workout |
| adopting such a principle, one of the most popular | | | | modification or addition that will accelerate the fat loss |
| bodybuilding techniques is to enhance rep range, where | | | | process? Yes, and the technique does not involve any |
| lighter weight is used to allow for a higher than normal | | | | modifications to the weight lifting workout, but does |
| amount of reps per set, and some believe that this | | | | stimulate the cardiovascular system to enhance |
| weight training method will bring muscle definition to | | | | metabolism and overall fat burning; aerobic activity is |
| new heights, therefore some adopt an exclusive lower | | | | the key to boosting the speed of fat loss, and is often |
| weight and higher rep approach to weight lifting during | | | | ignored by bodybuilders to the detriment of their |
| a fat loss period. | | | | physique. Even when pursuing muscle gains, aerobics |
| I cannot vouch for exactly where this bodybuilding | | | | assists in controlling body fat levels, so in addition to a |
| theory originated, but speculate that because lactic | | | | disciplined weight lifting routine comprised of high and |
| acid buildup in muscles occurs when performing high | | | | low rep ranges, aerobics is a very important concept in |
| rep bodybuilding workouts, and therefore causes a | | | | producing maximum muscle definition, and should |
| muscle "burn" that is not present when using heavier | | | | become a standard aspect of any bodybuilding |
| weights, some became convinced that this was | | | | workout routine. |
| targeting the muscle in a more direct way, and thus | | | | If you are seeking muscle definition, and find results to |
| must bring definition to levels far beyond what is | | | | be disappointing, do not adopt a high rep range for |
| possible with lower rep ranges. It's also possible that | | | | your weight lifting workouts, but rather first analyze |
| cardiovascular fatigue accompanying higher rep weight | | | | your diet, which is the primary factor behind body fat |
| lifting workout sessions causes some to feel that they | | | | gain or loss, and then aim for consistent aerobic |
| are burning more fat, and therefore they pursue such | | | | activity, preferably five days per week if your |
| techniques when muscle definition is the primary goal. | | | | schedule allows, and once these variables are intact, |
| The problem with these theories is that a weight lifting | | | | you will begin to experience body fat reduction and |
| component of a workout session is not designed to | | | | definition improvements that will bring all of your muscle |
| burn fat or increase definition, but rather to enhance | | | | gains to the skin's surface. If you are currently |
| muscle size and strength, and therefore must be | | | | performing regular aerobic activity, make sure intensity |
| utilized with this specific goal in mind. | | | | is sufficient, as a walking pace is not sufficiently |
| By increasing rep range to address definition, the | | | | challenging to the body for any significant metabolism |
| bodybuilder in effect will reduce the overload he or she | | | | boost, and remember that no workout variable, |
| provides to muscle tissue, and will inevitably begin to | | | | whether it be weight training or aerobic activity, can |
| burn away a portion of muscle mass that was built | | | | substitute for a properly designed fat loss diet, so |
| with higher weight and lower reps. Instead of | | | | focus on how you eat for the most dramatic |
| enhancing definition, this specific weight training | | | | improvements in muscle definition. |