how much rest between sets?

[~ice~]

how much rest between sets do you guys get? i like to get about 20 minutes of rest so my muscles are almost completely recovered. i like to do about 5 sets. so it takes me awhile. i have gotten the best results this way. but how would you go about taking post-workout supplements?

[theroc]

20 minutes after ONE set?
i can do my chest and half of my back routine in 20 minutes lol..
dont you lose your pump waiting that long?
and how long have you been working out?
everyone i talk to and know rests about 45-60 seconds between sets..

[Lee J B]

If your resting 20min between sets your almost indeffinitly overtraining, a good time to rest is around about 1 - 3min. Post workout supp should include a fast absorbing protein .. whey protein isolate would be your best bet and also some dextrose.

[Todd]

yah, a minute or so should be adequate rest time between sets. The only time I could see it having to be longer would be if you are doing heavy heavy sets of squats or dead lifts, where rest periods could take up to 5 mins max before the next set....but that is the extreme!

-Todd

[cursor]

Generally, the rest time between sets of a particular weight lifting exercise will depend on the mass of the muscles being worked and the intensity of the lift. If you're putting all you have into a set and going to failure, then your next set (if you choose to continue) should follow a longer rest (which should involve a muscle-specific stretch) than if you're lifting with more moderate intensity. Biceps require less rest than quadriceps (because of size differential).

[Todd]

TRUE DAT!

[~ice~]

so you shouldnt rest long enough for the muscles to be completely rested?

[Todd]

Well, I think what we are trying to get across here, is that you need to allow adequate rest between sets for your muscles to rejuvinate themselves just long enough so you can endure your next intense set. Depending on how big the muscle group is you are working (like what Cursor said), and how much intensity you are putting into a particular set, will dictate how long you need to rest that muscle.

You certainly don't want to wait 20 minutes, or even 10 minutes between sets because your muscles will start to go cold, your body temperature drops, your heart rate drops etc....and you don't want to let this happen. You want to continue working that muscle while it is warm and the blood is flowing to it! Allowing your muscles to rest just long enough so that you can apply high intensity to your next set, should be a good guideline to follow...and for most, this is a minute to a couple minutes for smaller body parts worked with high intensity, and UP TO 5 mins between sets for larger bodyparts worked with high intensity.

I hope this helps ya!

-Todd

[~ice~]

ok so no longer than 5 minutes got ya. so even though i wont be able to do as much after 5 minutes as i could after 20 minutes, it is still just as effective?

[Lee J B]

its more effective, .. you wont be overtraining

[~ice~]

ok thanx alot guys. much apreciated.