Rest between sets....

[hardkor]

There's been a lot of threads here on PM about what training method is best, how many sets/reps to do, what exercises are best, etc... But one thing that we haven't discussed, which i feel is a big factor is the amount of time we rest in between our sets?

I train at a gym where there are a lot of bb's and i've noticed that it varys a lot. I've seen guys rest only about 30 seconds in between set to guys that seem to rest up to 5 minutes before they bang out another set.

How much do you all rest in between your sets? For me, its 3 minutes on average. Anything less and my reps go way down.

 

[MrJuiceHead]

about 30sec for me, i dont have time to be in the gym 2hr a day. i also dont lift very heavy anymore.

 

[Stroyer]

Rest

For me it depends really, on the lift, if I am pressed for time, and or my training at any particular time..

But for me, most of the time, I rest as long as needed between most sets, so that I am able to handle the most poundage and apply the most intensity I can to each and every set, usually it is around 3-6 minutes between sets.

Stroy

 

[Vander_V]

1-2 minutes

 

[Crowler]

Til breathing returns to close to normal.

You don't have to watch the clock. It works out so easy. You just naturally rest more between something like squat sets than you do between BB curls.

 

[FRKNHUGE]

depends
if im tryn to get in better cardio muscular ish type endurance then 45 sec
if im goin balls f'n heavy then however long it takes me to regain my composure
regularly, 1-2min
frk

 

[BigBoyJ]

How ever long it takes to sip down a beer.

Actually, I agree with Crowler.

 

[mike63]

Only one beer between sets BBJ?

 

[MikeS]

I try to take a nap between sets. B2K or Johnny Bravo can confirm.
Actually I rest up long between heavy sets of compound movements. But once I get done those and start the rep sets, its more like when breathing and heartrate seem normal again.

 

[BigBoyJ]

Only one beer between sets BBJ?

3 on deadlift day.

 

[Kahn]

I go by breathing. I tried to cut rest and it turned out to be the '6 weeks to a smaller and weaker you' program. My body responds best to about three minutes, five max, for rest.

 

[G.E.R.M]

..

about 60 - 90 seconds...

i usually use my breathing as a guide and this is what timeframe it takes for my breathing to return to a somewhat normal range/.

 

[hardkor]

Found a great article by Chris Aceto on this very topic. Check it out in the Article section.

 

[jerrywear]

30 to 60 sec,depends on what i am doing.but mostly 30 sec,i love to hit the body part as hard as i can and as fast as i can.i feel this is the best way my muscles reacts to it.i dont like to rest a lot.but on the leg day is the diferent storyhams 30 sec,but quads 1min to 2 min rest

 

[Masscycle]

It varies one day I might rest 30 seconds and another day I might rest 1 to 2 minutes. but I very rarely rest more than 2 minutes these days. During my Powerlifting days I would rest sometimes 10 minutes between heavy squat sets, but that was with gear on and 1-2 rep sets, 4-8 weeks out from a meet. Boy, sometimes I sure do miss the platform, but I don't miss getting ready for a meet.

 

[Moen]

3-4 mins