I'm not sure when the right time to start doing heavier weight is... Is it when you get to that "recommended, ideal weight" or is it sometime else? I'm close to the "178LBS" or w/e it is for me, and I don't want to look huge, I wanna be cut and lean... Or is it more about the Body Fat %?

Would starting some heavier weights make me look big, or will my current decrease in body fat be enough to keep a lean look?

I'm not sure when the right time to start doing heavier weight is... Is it when you get to that "recommended, ideal weight" or is it sometime else? I'm close to the "178LBS" or w/e it is for me, and I don't want to look huge, I wanna be cut and lean... Or is it more about the Body Fat %?

Would starting some heavier weights make me look big, or will my current decrease in body fat be enough to keep a lean look?

I think you are confused about why you increase the weight you lift. Regardless of whether you are on a cut or a bulk, you should be attempting to progressively increase the amount you are lifting, both in the number of reps and the weight of each rep. Generally people use 6-12 reps. For a beginner it's probably better to stick to 8-12, and sometimes even a bit higher.

The ideal time to develop muscle is now.

In my opinion, the ideal time to up the weight you are using is when you can get through the all the reps/sets of an exercise and know you can do more. Not just one or two more reps, but half of another set.

I always try to make it a challenge. If I feel I could have done more, I'll add 5 or 10 lbs the next time out. If I know I left it all there on the bench and I doubt I could lift the towel to wipe away the sweat, I'll keep it the same weight for the next time.


Now in terms of body weight...

...body weight is irrelevant when it comes down to lifting. You should have been looking to lift heavier before you got to the "ideal weight". I'm always looking to lift more weight and I'm nowhere near where I plan on being.

If you are scared of getting "huge", don't worry. To get huge, you have to eat almost a ton of food. Seriously. As long as you don't go outrageous with the food intake (4000-5000 cals), you should have no problem.

Hope this helps. :tu: