definition vs strength work outs

Alrighty, now that I am back on the losing streak pounds wise and looking at the muscle mass that I am working up I am wondering, how does one specifically work out for definition? What about for sheer strength? I have heard that one is lots of reps with very little weight and one is less reps with lots of weight... is that right and which is which?

thanks!

I think for strength its higher weight for tone its more reps less weight  

Yes, for strength it is heavier weights and lower reps, toning is lower weights higher reps.

I'm not a big follower of the heavy weights = more strength idea. Higher reps/lighter weights will get you defined, but if you stick just with heavy workouts then you probably aren't going to be breaking enough muscle down. It's just my experience, but my strength normally goes up more when I'm on a cycle that focuses on high reps. It's also a good idea to mix it up. For example, on your bicep day for the first week, go light/more reps. Next week, heavy and fewer. You can alternate, or try other ideas (I'm really into 4/8/12/16 rep splits right now, or you could do pyramids without rest, etc). Regardless, if you trick your muscles and keep your body guessing, you're going to see results, both in strength and definition. 

Definition lose fat while keeping the most muscle mass you can.

Strenght eat big. Lift hard. Don't worry about the beach body because you'll be packing on fat most likely.

Compare body builder to strong men competitors. One has more defintion one has more strength.

all good info. Thanks.

For me I am going more for deffinition, but I do want some strength to back it up, so I guess I will have to do some mixing it up in the gym.

the problem is people seemt o forget that if you are trying to "tone" you still have to work the muscles, people will start going with lighter weights and then the lose muscle! if you keep all of your rep ranges between 8- 15 you will be good, but being tone meens having a lower bodyfat. so worl on that end and keep building muscle the cardio will prevent your muscles form getting too biga nd you wil tone and firm. weights with high reps alone will not make you tone!

well really, as long as your doing strength training you WILL get stronger. just make sure when you do lots of reps with lighter weights that you are still pushing yourself to the point of fatigue. my trainer told me to just keep increasing my reps or sets (not weights) enough so that i am struggling through the last few reps of each exercise.

So according to your trainer kiigan eventually you will be doing twenty to thirty reps per set.

you have diiferent mucle fibers that respond to different reps ranges, if you do the same rep ranges every workout, you will only be working one type of muscle fiber(i.e. higher reps works slow twitch, lower reps work fast twitch)

I do a "hard/heavy" workout twice a week for arms and back using free weights and the weight machines at the gym, and then light arm and back twice a week with resistance bands.

Cardio of some sort 6 days a week, 3 days hard, 3 days lighter.

I don't always do it for the calorie burning, I have a stress management problem, and find my days are so much easier when I find time to exercise, even just a little.

I am seeing some definition, but I think it is an on going struggle - depends on how buff you want to get I suppose.

Getting rid of the fat is definitely key, my abs are rock solid, they just come off as squishy cuz they are underneath an inch of fat  :)

I feel ya Lupa-genx, I workout in themorning at 5, if i didin't i would surely kill somebody by the end of the day. Weights are the ultimate stress releiver!

Just arms and back? Throw in some chest and legs. Look after your whole body.

"Toning" is a terrible terrible myth and every mention of the word makes my skin crawl. Please, please read this. Everyone even giving a passing thought to picking up a set of weights should bookmark this page.

http://newbie-fitness.blogspot.com/

The man knows his stuff. Please listen to him.