Lifting weights for many people is to gain muscle, or to even keep the muscle they already have. No matter what you lift weights for if it’s to tone your body for summer, or to be able to deadlift the most at a competition.

There are five different types of lifting according to Jason Jensen at Livestrong.com. Those five different types of lifting being Bodybuilding, Powerlifting, Circuit Training, Isometric, and High-Volume Training. Each of these lifting techniques vary from one to another.

Bodybuilders main goal isn’t to have the heaviest max for a lift, but to gain muscle for their appearance. Bodybuilders typically train one muscle group per day doing eight to twelve reps per lift.

Powerlifters main goal is to gain muscular strength. Powerlifters will typically do only a few reps, but a lot of weight for that lift.

Circuit training is a method of training where for example you would do 10 reps of bicep curls, 10 reps of tricep pushdowns, and 10 squats with little to no rest inbetween. This type of training is ideal for people looking to burn fat, and get some muscle gains.

Isometric training is ideal for athletes that need to hold the same position for a long time. Isometric training is where you hold a position for a long amount of time, for example a squat for 30 seconds. This is ideal for increasing stamina and strength in that position. For High-Volume Training you train one muscle group at a time, and the emphasis is to increase muscular stamina.

All of these lifts are good for your body, and it is your choice on which one to do. It all depends on what your personal goal is.