rest between sets

[sussan]

I workout at home and am well into Stage 3 and really like this! But, the rest time between sets is driving me crazy. Just standing there watching the seconds or minute pass seems like such a waste. If you add up all the rest time it seems like it would be longer than all the exercise time. What do others do...anything besides just waiting for the time to tick by?

[bekkilyn]

I'm too busy trying to move weight plates around on my adjustable barbell/dumbbells between exercises to have any time to just stand around and watch the clock. In fact, I can't get it done in 60 seconds and feel like I'm being forced into taking too much rest. I think I'm going to buy some more weight plates so I won't have to spend so much rest time messing with them.

Other than that, I'm recording the data from the last set and also checking over what I need to do next, perhaps read over some information to improve my form. (Not that I really have time to do it within the 60 seconds along with all the weight plate stuff, but I have taken the time to do it.)

Also, if the second exercise if alternating isn't working the same muscles, then you could probably just skip the rest time for those.

If I needed to, I'd probably just make sure to have something with me to read until the time is up.

[ZeeSparrow]

I also have the same issues as bekkilyn: moving plates around in between exercises frequently. When I don't have to do that, I also record data and check what's next.

Barring all of that, I stretch.

[Lost Dog]

Sometimes rest times do seem long. Just wait until you try a program that asks for 2-5 minutes to really rest for a max lift or something!

Remember that just because you're not breathing hard, heart racing, or feeling still weak doesn't mean that you're actually ready to lift as heavy and hard as the last set. There are elements of the nervous system that need to recover, as well.

There is a chance (slim?) that you're not lifting hard enough. Different people recover at different rates, so maybe not. Sometimes it's worth trying to lift hard enough to try to really need that rest time.

[sussan]

Lost Dog, I think you have a great point that I need to examine.....am I lifting heavy enough. Thanks.

[Lost Dog]