Lifting weights at all can be "abusing". I was weight lifting until began to feel pain in the back (no, I did it properly). Now I do only muay thai. No mass building, but I gain just enough not to be skinny, also feel more "in shape" than when lifting weights.
Regarding how many times you lift in a set, lift smaller weight many times for definition, big weight few times for mass. At least that's what I read, can't be sure if it is 100% true.