Newbie questions

I'm starting to lift weights in order to lose weight.

I've been doing 3 sets of 15 reps of various exercises. For weight
loss, would it be better to go with heavier weights and fewer reps
(since it would build muscle mass faster)?

Also, everything I've read says to wait a few minutes (i.e. 2-4 min.)
in between sets. Does the time you wait between sets affect the
effectiveness of the overall workout? For example, sometimes I do one
set, then do another set an hour later, and the third set an hour
after that. Is this kind of workout less effective than doing all sets
back-to-back?

It's not that I'm lazy...I lift at home and always get distracted by
something - phone calls, etc.

"Plin" <plin321.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote in news:1110151969.994666.141410
@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

> I'm starting to lift weights in order to lose weight.
>
> I've been doing 3 sets of 15 reps of various exercises. For weight
> loss, would it be better to go with heavier weights and fewer reps
> (since it would build muscle mass faster)?

Depends on what you want. 6-12 reps is generally considered best for
maximizing muscle size; 2-6 for maximizing strength. For weight loss, eating
less matters more than any of this.

>
> Also, everything I've read says to wait a few minutes (i.e. 2-4 min.)
> in between sets. Does the time you wait between sets affect the
> effectiveness of the overall workout?

Depends on what you want. Short rests stress arobic capacity and endurance.
Longer rests stress strength.

> For example, sometimes I do one
> set, then do another set an hour later, and the third set an hour
> after that. Is this kind of workout less effective than doing all sets
> back-to-back?

Depends on what you want. Pavel has a program called "Grease the Groove"
which consists of short heavy sets scattered throughout the day. It's a
strength program, rather than size.

Hugh

--
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will attend no other.