Ugh, wasn't done typing

I use 6 lbs because I do not want to get bulky like a guy.

6 lbs.

I just got the power block set to have a variety and I love it! I can now add some weight onto what I was using and start seeing more results. I use 9-18lbs depending on exercise. I also use a TRX for awesome body weight work.

^^^ and honestly, it's better to do a reasonable number of reps. That's where I've seen the best results.

For years, I did that tons and tons and tons of reps with the light weights and my upper body strength never really improved. I looked "toned" I guess, but I didn't get strong until I ditched that approach and started lifting heavier.

YMMV. That's just my experience.

As for OP's question:

You shouldn't just be using one set of weights. If you are lifting weights, you should have a variety of weights so that you can do sets of the lighter and then sets with fewer reps of the heavier.

Don't get fixated on comparing numbers. You do what works for you. Basically, you want to keep good form but also feel like, by the end, you've exhausted the muscle. So if you do your sets and feel like you could do a few more, then you need heavier weights. But if you are struggling to keep form and start using momentum, you need to go down.

NP here.

I'm familiar with barre, but I agree with PPs that it doesn't accomplish the same thing as weight lifting.

I also actually think that it's better to not even use weights for the kind of things that barre does. Bodyweight exercises, core work, that kind of thing is best done without weights. Same with yoga and barre. Because the endless repetitions mean that invariably, you will lose form. So then you actually increase the risk of injury even with the dinky 5 pounds weights, especially when it comes to your shoulders.

If you are going to use weights, I personally think it's actually safer to lift heavier weights with a more reasonable amount of repetitions and the appropriate rest in between sets.

Barre and bodyweight stuff has its benefits, and frankly, it's good to do a variety of stuff.

Anonymous wrote:Barre helps you build endurance strength, not necessarily physical strength (ie, amount). They're different, and both have their benefits.

But if you've been to a Barre class (I don't go regularly anymore), I don't know how you can say it doesn't help build strength - just in an endurance, different way.

Strength and endurance are two completely different things.

Strength is about your ability to lift heavy things.

Endurance is about your ability to sustain exercise.

Barre helps you build endurance strength, not necessarily physical strength (ie, amount). They're different, and both have their benefits.

But if you've been to a Barre class (I don't go regularly anymore), I don't know how you can say it doesn't help build strength - just in an endurance, different way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2-3 pound weights at barre class, multiple reps. I look much more defined and toned using weights in this way than I ever did with heavier lifting at the gym.

If that's your goal, then fine. But if you want to BE strong, rather than just look it, you need to lift heavy weights.

OP, as PPs have said, it totally depends on what exercise you're using them for.

Just to clarify since some people may not understand what barre classes are like, the segments with physical weights (multiple reps using 2-5 pounds) is usually just the warm up. This is followed by more traditional full body exercises like push ups, squats (on toes), tricep dips and 90 second to 2 min planks that use your entire body's weight as the resistance, often all repeated 1-2 times more in a single class. So while you are absolutely right that you need weight to build strength, barre classes definitely get you there, but not using barbells. That particular section of class is for the toning which makes you look fantastic! Obviously a barre class can't help you deadlift weights that are heavier than your body weight, if that is your goal, but they absolutely do make you strong, not just look it.

You just contradicted yourself. If you can't lift a heavy weight, then you're not strong. (And lifting just your body weight isn't even much.)

Strength definition fitness
Muscular strength is one of the five key components of physical fitness. Strength is defined as the maximum force that can be developed in a muscle or group of muscles during a single maximal contraction. An example would be the heaviest weight you can lift in a bicep curl with good form

Exactly. I'm the PP who posted about looking strong vs. being strong; I've been to enough Barre classes to know what they're like. While you can build some strength, especially in the core, as a strength workout it's not even in the same universe as lifting heavy. Which is fine, since it's not supposed to be, but then it's also not going to make you strong in the way that lifting weights will.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2-3 pound weights at barre class, multiple reps. I look much more defined and toned using weights in this way than I ever did with heavier lifting at the gym.

If that's your goal, then fine. But if you want to BE strong, rather than just look it, you need to lift heavy weights.

OP, as PPs have said, it totally depends on what exercise you're using them for.

Just to clarify since some people may not understand what barre classes are like, the segments with physical weights (multiple reps using 2-5 pounds) is usually just the warm up. This is followed by more traditional full body exercises like push ups, squats (on toes), tricep dips and 90 second to 2 min planks that use your entire body's weight as the resistance, often all repeated 1-2 times more in a single class. So while you are absolutely right that you need weight to build strength, barre classes definitely get you there, but not using barbells. That particular section of class is for the toning which makes you look fantastic! Obviously a barre class can't help you deadlift weights that are heavier than your body weight, if that is your goal, but they absolutely do make you strong, not just look it.

You just contradicted yourself. If you can't lift a heavy weight, then you're not strong. (And lifting just your body weight isn't even much.)

Strength definition fitness
Muscular strength is one of the five key components of physical fitness. Strength is defined as the maximum force that can be developed in a muscle or group of muscles during a single maximal contraction. An example would be the heaviest weight you can lift in a bicep curl with good form

5'5" and 125 lbs. I can deadlift twice my body weight, so I use multiple 45 lb weights on a barbell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2-3 pound weights at barre class, multiple reps. I look much more defined and toned using weights in this way than I ever did with heavier lifting at the gym.

If that's your goal, then fine. But if you want to BE strong, rather than just look it, you need to lift heavy weights.

OP, as PPs have said, it totally depends on what exercise you're using them for.

Just to clarify since some people may not understand what barre classes are like, the segments with physical weights (multiple reps using 2-5 pounds) is usually just the warm up. This is followed by more traditional full body exercises like push ups, squats (on toes), tricep dips and 90 second to 2 min planks that use your entire body's weight as the resistance, often all repeated 1-2 times more in a single class. So while you are absolutely right that you need weight to build strength, barre classes definitely get you there, but not using barbells. That particular section of class is for the toning which makes you look fantastic! Obviously a barre class can't help you deadlift weights that are heavier than your body weight, if that is your goal, but they absolutely do make you strong, not just look it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are you doing with them? It seems light to me. I don’t use anything below a 30lb dumbbell and I am not even super muscly (5’7 and 130lb)

You never use below 30lbs? Even for things like front and side raises and rear delts or tricep kickbacks?

Op, I'm a competitive bodybuilder and it really depends on the exercise and rep scheme I'm using. Can be anywhere from a 10-110 lb dumbbell.

Eat clean and tren hard, know what I mean

Anonymous wrote:What are you doing with them? It seems light to me. I don’t use anything below a 30lb dumbbell and I am not even super muscly (5’7 and 130lb)

You never use below 30lbs? Even for things like front and side raises and rear delts or tricep kickbacks?

Op, I'm a competitive bodybuilder and it really depends on the exercise and rep scheme I'm using. Can be anywhere from a 10-110 lb dumbbell.

Lunges with 50 lbs
anything that goes above my shoulder level 25 or less