If you Google this classic meme there are hundreds of images. Some are pretty funny and some are well, not so funny. I love cats so this works for me!

There is a serious question behind this meme and the answer to this question is not known by many it seems. Even some of the more well known coaches put things on social media that then makes me wonder about their knowledge base and coaching credentials.

So what is it that has got me fired up this time you ask?

The question lies within the meme – do you even lift? Or do you rep?

Rep counting and a fixation on hitting the number is the beginning of the repper versus the lifter “situation”.

A lifter is one that utilises technique, time and tempo in what they do in the gym. The others just do sloppy reps that can be a major problem.

Firstly how does hitting reps pose a problem? It’s clear that many people I see in a variety of settings have never been taught either by someone that knows or by the individual themself doing their own research on how to do things properly. You see a magazine article or a YouTube video and you follow that and you’re good to go. Someone in the gym gives you a tip or 2 or you see the trainer there doing something with a client and figure it will be good for you, too.

I have even had trainer’s in gyms copy stuff I have done and use it with their clients. Hand on heart I can say I have seen this done and the trainer did such a bad job with the client that I had to walk away and not watch what was happening. It was that terrible.

Too many times I have seen injuries resulting from chronically poor technique with an injury that takes months to rehabilitate. I can watch someone in a gym, predict an injury and generally also put a pretty accurate timeline to it. I am not a genius I have just seen this happen way too frequently. Squats and deadlifts are the 2 main culprits, the 2 heaviest lifts we can do as humans.

So much can go wrong with these 2 lifts and this is especially case when the weights get heavy.

Please bear in mind that lifting a heavy weight over a rep range of 3-6 is what gives us the best bang for our buck hormonally and smart hormone manipulation is what brings us the best results.

Counting high reps at 10-15 with touch and go technique has its place in certain situations, in say CrossFit competitions or in deload weeks but in most other scenarios it does not. Touch and go and other reps of this type won’t build the strength and endurance you need.

Look at a variety of resources, watch a variety of videos on technique and learn to appreciate the art of lifting and get stronger, quicker. Or you could consult an expert.