When & How Long to Rest Between Exercise Sets

Allotting for resting periods between sets of exercise will aid an exercising body to replenish energy sources, so that training can continue for the planned workout session. However, the energy sources used and the goals of the workout session are keys to determining how long of a rest period should be taken between exercise sets.

If you are training for endurance or weight loss then you are looking to sustain a higher heart rate for a pre-determined period of time (usually between 10-90 minutes ) to improve stamina or to benefit from the higher calorie burn experienced with endurance training. The sources of energy used for this type of exercise are sugar, oxygen, fat and protein, so one should aim to maintain short rest periods or engage in non or low-impact, active-rest physical drills between exercises to keep the heart rate steady and above 60% of the maximum heart rate. Endurance and weight loss training rest periods are usually kept in the range of 10-60 seconds depending on the condition of those exercising. If you’re training for hypertrophy with heavy weights, prepare to allow for longer resting periods between sets…usually between 1 ½ - 3 minutes.

#exercise #resistancetraining #weightloss #hypertrophy