Keep It Challenging for Better Results

You should increase the weight on an exercise when you are able to do more repetitions on a set than you have been regularly doing. If you normally do 20 lb for 10 reps and you find you can do 11 or more reps with that 20 lb you should increase the weight to the point where you can only do 10 or fewer reps. Muscles must continue to be stressed, in order to continue to strengthen and tone. If the weights you are using aren’t challenging anymore, you’re no longer stressing your muscles.

Submitted by ChesapeakeMommies member Shannon Brennan, who also writes the Counting On Me Blog.