Rest Time Between Sets?

sourpower · Sep 17, 2023

AllOkJumpmaster said:
all og the empirical evidence says that the shorter rest periods you use, the more volume you need to make up for it. I like 2-3 minutes but I train with high intensity. I don't think you need to sit there and time the shit though, most people know around the 2-3 minute mark they are good and ready for another intense set. Outside of insanely long rest periods, it appears erring on the side og longer is better if you train with intensity. You need to be recovered in order to push again. I cannot see how anyone could take a pendulum squat set to failure, then shadowbox for 30 seconds, and be ready to go hard again. Anyone that does, or says they do is using a flaccid penis level of intensity.

“Flaccid penis level of intensity” holy shit that’s funny

fisther69 · Sep 17, 2023

sourpower said:
“Flaccid penis level of intensity” holy shit that’s funny

It’s funny, but I can see variables with the level of intensity needed with a flacid penis depending on vaginal vs anal, also tightness of a given hole and possible obstructions such as wild bush.

sourpower · Sep 17, 2023

fisther69 said:
It’s funny, but I can see variables with the level of intensity needed with a flacid penis depending on vaginal vs anal, also tightness of a given hole and possible obstructions such as wild bush.

A good bush means i don’t need cialis.

fisther69 · Sep 17, 2023

sourpower said:
A good bush means i don’t need cialis.

This is true for me as well, however…some people still can’t make it work, even if they melted down the cialis in a spoon and injected it

Hyperemia · Sep 17, 2023

60-90 seconds usually.

2 mins if I need it.

3 minutes….I’d just be bored at that point.

Johnnyhartly · Sep 17, 2023

30-60: working up to working sets

60-90: working sets

2-5min: heavy 1-3rep set days

carnivor · Sep 17, 2023

I usually take a couple/few minutes, but that’s just preference. When I’m not working I don’t really have a time limit So I don’t rush.
I think cardio level has a big impact on how long it takes to feel ready. I recovered and was ready to go much quicker when I ran frequently. When I don’t do any cardio I need a little time after a heavy compound movement just to get my breathing under contro.

Johnnyhartly · Sep 17, 2023

carnivor said:
I usually take a couple/few minutes, but that’s just preference. When I’m not working I don’t really have a time limit So I don’t rush.
I think cardio level has a big impact on how long it takes to feel ready. I recovered and was ready to go much quicker when I ran frequently. When I don’t do any cardio I need a little time after a heavy compound movement just to get my breathing under contro.

I totally agree. When I’m doing cardio consistently my rest times are way lower. I can often get more sets in too.

xpoc · Sep 18, 2023

Unless I am doing rest pause sets, I subscribe to the Paul Carter science based model of 2-3 minutes for hypertrophy but I don't use a timer. Every time I use a timer I find myself more focused on how much time I have left rather than breathing and mentally recovering. For big movements like squats, deads, leg press I take more time....for isolation movements I take less time. Just depends on when I feel ready to go again.

Mufasa123 · Sep 18, 2023

Heavy squats and deads are a different animal. Less so bench. Those take longer to recover from as it's full body and extra tax on cns. Especially important if you train for strength or are pushing on things. I don't take longer than I need but I do not rush big sets. If you've ever trained for PL or with a crew, you know what I'm saying.

Most upper body and isolation work is just easy. I will take 1-3mins depending on what I'm doing. That stuff I can sustain a decetly elevated heart rate and still perform well. HR is not the goal but I wear a monitor and the difference is easy to tell when I get through my heavy work. Night and day on the graph and I'm not rushing in any way, shape or form. Different animal.

fisther69 · Sep 18, 2023

xpoc said:
Unless I am doing rest pause sets, I subscribe to the Paul Carter science based model of 2-3 minutes for hypertrophy but I don't use a timer. Every time I use a timer I find myself more focused on how much time I have left rather than breathing and mentally recovering. For big movements like squats, deads, leg press I take more time....for isolation movements I take less time. Just depends on when I feel ready to go again.

I do that same shit! I started pacing out my time during rest periods about 12 years ago..just making laps around certain pieces of equipment and looping back

qbkilla · Sep 18, 2023

xpoc said:
Unless I am doing rest pause sets, I subscribe to the Paul Carter science based model of 2-3 minutes for hypertrophy but I don't use a timer. Every time I use a timer I find myself more focused on how much time I have left rather than breathing and mentally recovering. For big movements like squats, deads, leg press I take more time....for isolation movements I take less time. Just depends on when I feel ready to go again.

Your w fan of Carter? I used to be but feel like he is starting to get more extreme in his views ala Mike mentzer. Saying things like small body parts don't need higher reps or more volume, saying very low reps are fine for lat raises, very low volume... seems like he's almost too into the scientific stuff and ignoring things that we all know work.

aHarness · Sep 18, 2023

Fleezy said:
'hey bro, lemme work in real quick'

hasn't failed me

But human interaction is scary!

Black Beard · Sep 18, 2023

chingaling said:
As I get older (51 now), my workouts expectedly have gotten shorter. Usually in the 45 min range. I see these young kids texting and on their phones between sets while I’m waiting on the piece of equipment they are on. Taking like 2-3 min between sets . I try to rest bout 1 min between Sets. Where do y’all land with rest between sets ?

3-5 minutes for heavier or compound exercises. Usually 1 min-ish if it's isolation/lighter work. Studies and my own experience prove 3-5 mins is ideal, at least for heavy/compound movements. If you are lifting very heavy weight, your CNS won't be optimally recovered without sufficient rest.

If you are still novice/intermediate, you can probably get away with less rest, but when you are squatting ass to grass +405 lbs / deadlifting +500 lbs raw /etc you will feel that difference that 5 minutes can make.

Mufasa123 · Sep 18, 2023

Black Beard said:
3-5 minutes for heavier or compound exercises. Usually 1 min-ish if it's isolation/lighter work. Studies and my own experience prove 3-5 mins is ideal, at least for heavy/compound movements. If you are lifting very heavy weight, your CNS won't be optimally recovered without sufficient rest.

If you are still novice/intermediate, you can probably get away with less rest, but when you are squatting ass to grass +405 lbs / deadlifting +500 lbs raw /etc you will feel that difference that 5 minutes can make.

Agreed on big lifts. Also I didn't qualify it in my post above but equipped benches (bench shirt) qualifies as big cns hit too. I don't care how much the shirt adds but the felt load on the cns is a huge dent way beyond raw benching.

xpoc · Sep 18, 2023

qbkilla said:
Your w fan of Carter? I used to be but feel like he is starting to get more extreme in his views ala Mike mentzer. Saying things like small body parts don't need higher reps or more volume, saying very low reps are fine for lat raises, very low volume... seems like he's almost too into the scientific stuff and ignoring things that we all know work.

I have gone back and forth with my following of Carter... so right now I am back ON. His delivery is like a bull in a china shop so he is quite abrasive. But, it is tough to argue his logic when it is based on the latest findings.

juggy38 · Sep 18, 2023

2 minutes between leg curls I’m bored unless there’s something to look at in the gym.

2 minutes between deadlifts, and I’m questioning why the fuck do I keep doing this hobby

MrWhisper · Sep 18, 2023

My workouts typically run 60-90min.

MON-Chest, tri, shoulders- 12 sets per body part

TUES-Back, Bi, traps- 12 sets per body part (except traps-8 sets)

WED- Legs 15 sets, followed by a 2 mile run

THURS-Chest, tri, shoulders- 12 sets per body part

FRI-Back, Bi, traps- 12 sets per body part (except traps-8 sets)

SAT- 2-4 mile run

SUN- Rest

I typically do a lighter weight week followed by a heavy week the next, and so on. This helps me increase strength without causing too much damage that my recovery is not adequate.

On my lighter weight weeks I use a 45sec-1min rest between each sets. I like to keep the intensity high on lower weight days. On my heavier weeks I will rest 1min-3min between sets.