In other words, you get better at whatever you practice, a phenomenon known as the “training effect.”

When it comes to the number of repetitions required

to perform different sports activities and abilities, great variation exists. The repetition range can vary from as low as one to as many as one million, and theoretically even higher. Along with the change in the number of repetitions comes an inherent change in the “percentage of maximum effort” that can be exerted per repetition. By changing the percentage of maximum effort, and therefore the total number of repetitions per set, we determine whether we are training to develop strength, muscular size, muscular endurance, cardio, or pure endurance.

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As the repetition range increases, the percentage of maximum effort per repetition must decrease. In terms of fitness performance, the body develops that which you ask of it. In other words, you get better at whatever you practice, a phenomenon known as the “training effect.”

The ultimate strength challenge is the “one rep maximum” lift. In other words, no matter what the lift – biceps curl or triceps extension, squat, bench or deadlift, Olympic lifts or whatever – the idea is to discover how much you can lift for just one repetition. If truly at or very near your maximum, you will not be able to perform a second repetition in the same set, thus the expression, one rep max.

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Training at one rep max has various pros and cons, and to enhance their training, people training for pure strength tend to stay within the one to five repetition range per set.

They know that if they can perform more than thirty repetitions, the weight is too light, but if they cannot perform at least fifteen repetitions, the weight is too heavy for optimum results.

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Body builders do not lift weights that are as heavy as those who train for strength, but they do many more repetitions. The “time under load” required for those repetitions results in the desired hypertrophy of their muscles.

Thus the strength athletes get stronger, without getting much bigger, and the body builders get bigger, without getting much stronger.

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The typical guy or gal that goes to the gym, however, is taught to lift in the “no man’s land” of eight to twelve repetitions per set. They will get a bit stronger and a bit bigger as a result, thus perpetuating the myth that bigger equates with stronger.

If they were hoping to develop size, the relatively low repetition range would be inefficient, and the results would be unsatisfactory. If they were hoping to develop strength, the relatively high repetition range would also be inefficient, and relatively ineffective, and the results would once again be considered unsatisfactory.

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Train like the pros and you will get the results the pros get. Train in the “no man’s land,” inefficiently and ineffectively, and you will be relegated to perpetual mediocrity in terms of performance results.

That said, if you wish to get a little bigger and a little stronger, training in no man’s land may be just perfect for you.