While physical activity can certainly be its own reward, most people who engage in a serious physical fitness program find it useful to set goals. Setting a goal not only gives you something to aim for, it gives you something against which to measure progress.
The ability to continue doing work over time is known as muscular endurance. Endurance is a different issue from muscle strength and size. Your bicep may be impressively large (size). You may be able to curl a great deal of weight (strength). But can you curl a moderate amount of weight over and over and over again for dozens of reps or more? That is muscular endurance, and it is sought by athletes at all levels.
Generally, a physical fitness program designed to improve muscular endurance will prescribe multiple sets of an exercise with a relatively high number of reps per set and a moderate or low weight. The correct number of reps, optimal weight, and right number of sets will differ from person to person and change over time, but you might expect to do 12 to 20 reps per set for two to four sets. Speaking generally, the weight amount will hinge on muscle failure; you would aim to use a weight that you can manage with proper form for 12 to 20 reps only, until the point of fatigue.
For more information about building muscular endurance or physical fitness programs, contact THE MAX Challenge of South Windsor.
