The specific combinations of reps, sets, exercises and weight depends upon the aims of the individual performing the exercise, sets with fewer reps can be performed with heavier weights.



In addition to the basic principles of strength training, a further consideration added by weight training is the equipment used. Types of equipment include barbells, dumbbells, pulleys and stacks in the form of weight machines or the body's own weight in the case of chin-ups and push-ups. Different types of weights will give different types of resistance, and often the same absolute weight can have different relative weights depending on the type of equipment used. For example, lifting 20 pounds using a dumbbell requires significantly more force than moving 20 pounds on a weight stack due to the use of pulleys.

When you are strength or weight training you must use good form, defining good form is doing the movements with the appropriate muscle group, and not transferring the weight to different body parts in order to move greater weight. When you don't use good form it can result in injury or a failure to meet training goals, since the desired muscle group is not challenged sufficiently, the muscle group is not pushed so the muscle will not gain the strength you are trying to achieve.

The benefits of weight training overall are comparable to most other types of strength training increased muscle, tendon and ligament strength, bone density, flexibility, tone, metabolic rate and postural support. There are benefits and limitations to weight training as compared to other types of strength training.

Resistance training involves the use of elastic or hydraulic resistance to contraction rather than gravity. Weight training provides the majority of the resistance at the beginning, initiation joint angle of the movement, when the muscle must overcome the inertia of the weight's mass. After this point the overall resistance alters depending on the angle of the joint. In comparison, hydraulic resistance provides a fixed amount of resistance throughout the range of motion, depending on the speed of the movement. Elastic resistance provides the greatest resistance at the end of the motion, when the elastic element is stretched to the greatest extent.

Isometric exercise provides a fixed amount of resistance based on the force output of the muscle. This strengthens the muscle at the specific joint angle at which the isometric exercise occurs.

Although weight training is similar to body building, they have different objectives. Body builders compete in body building competitions; they train to maximize their muscular size and develop extremely low levels of body fat In contrast, most weight trainers train to improve their strength and anaerobic endurance while not giving special attention to reducing body fat below normal.

Weight trainers tend to focus on compound exercises to build basic strength, whereas bodybuilders often use isolation exercises to visually separate their muscles and to improve muscular tone.

However, the bodybuilding community has been the source of many of weight training's principles, techniques, vocabulary, and customs.

Weight training does allow tremendous flexibility in exercises and weights which can allow bodybuilders to target specific muscles and muscle groups, as well as attain specific goals.