Rest
Between Sets - Rest Time
Rest for the Best
How to Utilize that Time Between
Sets.
In kindergarten, we knew it as ' quiet
time'. In high school, it turned into 'study time'.
At work, it's often referred to as ' down time'. And
at the health club, it's usually known as ' social time'.
We're talking about that few minutes
of time when the work is at bay, and it's finally time
to play. You've just finished that gut-wrenching set
of leg presses. As soon as you wipe the sweat off your
forehead, you turn to tell your pal to engage in a set
of a far different variety, a set of lips and gums.
You start blabbing to him about every subject under
the sun, the big ballgame coming up, the hot date from
the night before, the upcoming Democratic Convention,
the difference between Sprite and Seven-Up, you name
it.
However, all babble aside, the rest
you take between sets is certainly a crucial aspect
of your everyday workout; both the quality and the quantity
of the seconds and minutes that elapse during this period
of inactivity can vastly effect your output.
First off, the productive ways to
spend the moments between sets. While it may seem like
this time has nothing to do with your workout or the
progression of your body, this couldn't be further from
the truth.
To keep your mind in synch with your
workout, you should stay in tuned with the mission at
hand. It will be difficult for your body to remain engaged
in the workout when your mind is lost somewhere in a
downtown nightclub or on a faraway beach. When you're
amid the jungle of plates, dumbbells, and barbells,
think one thing and one thing only:
Iron.
This is one four-letter word that
will never be forbidden in your gym. Take your time
between sets and reflect on your goals, the body you
want to acquire, the work that has to be done, and the
intensity you will be investing into the very next set.
Another fitting way to spend these
precious moments is to stretch. While stretching is
usually regarded as only a pre-workout activity, it
has been concluded that stretching during the workout
itself is a great way to accelerate the blood flow and
trigger an increase in muscle strength. Partake in a
mild stretch of the body part you are working, but taking
precautions not to overextend this process.
Also, venture up to the water bubbler
and consume a small amount of water. Maintaining fluids
during your workout is great for keeping your system
replenished and your strength intact. Dehydration is
one of the worst nemeses that your body can encounter
during the sweat session. Also, that walk to the bubbler
alone is better for keeping your body warm and your
system active, rather than to remain stationary in a
seated position, where your body can quickly become
comfortable and thus, inactive.
The amount of time you reserve for
resting between sets will vary, depending on your particular
goals
Rest Time Between Sets
If your goal is to gain strength
and pack on the muscle mass, the ideal amount of time
between sets is roughly 3-4 minutes. Allowing this amount
of time will provide ample recovery time for your muscles,
and thus, refuel your muscles with the strength it needs
to conquer the next grueling set.
For the more toned, defined look,
cut back the rest time to 1-2 minutes between sets,
keeping the tension on the muscles while carving them
into that sharp, chiseled look you so willfully desire.
Generate optimum workouts to achieve
maximum results. Average increase in strength of 70.2%
in 30days. >>
Click here for Pete's online Precision Trainer
If you are serious about transforming
your body to its ultimate potential, get the Muscle
Building Nutrition by Will Brink with great
reviews from top pro athletes like Lee Labrada, Charles
Poliquin, and more.
Related Products:
>>
Click here for Biotest Mag-10 prohormone
>>
Click here for Super Heavy Weight Gainer from Champion
Nutrition
>>
Click here for GHR 15 supplement
|