You may follow an online workout, and it says to “rest” between sets. You think “Cool I can rest!” Or “I don’t need no stinking rest!”
Did you know your rest intervals are based on your goals and your fitness level? There is more to the rest interval than to just chill out. In fact, it is kind of an art to fitness programming.
In endurance or aerobic training the rest intervals will be shorter, however strength and power goals have longer rest periods.
If you finish a set and don’t feel like you need a rest, consider lifting heavier or pushing harder. The rule of thumb is to be able to push through the assigned reps, with the last two being a little difficult to complete. A rest is needed in order to let the muscle recover.
Believe it or not, there is a lot of science that goes into determining those rest periods, and how much recovery your muscle needs for the goals you are working toward. So the next time you see a rest period programmed into the workout you are doing, follow it. Don’t yack with a friend for 3 minutes when your rest interval is 60 seconds, conversely don’t skimp on waiting the full 60 seconds – push harder the next set, if you don’t feel like you need a rest. You should need your rest interval.
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