stop watch for rest periods

[the big lebowski]

anyone else use a stopwatch during your workouts to time your rest periods. I know im the only one that does at my gym. so am i the only one out there?

[Big]

How much time do you allow between sets? I like pushing my sets close together, I take 12 full deep breaths between each set. Not as accurate as a stop watch, but it puts the sets fairly evenly spaced.

[ebjack]

I use one..and i don't see anybody else

[skank]

I don't use time as a rest period guide. When I feel recovered I begin my next set. In other words when my heart rate comes down and muscles are rested enough I am ready. Each set is going to take a little longer to recover as the sets get harder from increasing the weight. So I would rather go by feel rather than time.

[the big lebowski]

How much time do you allow between sets? I like pushing my sets close together, I take 12 full deep breaths between each set. Not as accurate as a stop watch, but it puts the sets fairly evenly spaced.

it varies from 1:00 - 2:30 minutes ***ending on the muscle being worked, the exercise im performing, what my goals are at that time, the number of reps, and the over all time constraint i may have due to work

thats cool u have the focus to count every breath between sets. me personally i just could see myself forgetting to count so im gonna stick with my stopwatch. plus im so use to it if i forget to wear it i find myself pokin my wrist after every set forgettin im not wearing it

[the big lebowski]

I don't use time as a rest period guide. When I feel recovered I begin my next set. In other words when my heart rate comes down and muscles are rested enough I am ready. Each set is going to take a little longer to recover as the sets get harder from increasing the weight. So I would rather go by feel rather than time.

when i first started lifting i tried doing it this way but i wasnt at that level of experience to tell if i was rested between sets and found myself taking really long breaks sometimes and my w/o would be too long so i started using the stopwatch to cut down on this and be more precise with studies i have read on muscle recovery between sets. someday i hope ill be at that level where i wont need the stopwatch anymore and i can stop worrying bout keepin packed in the gym bag and just go by instinct

[sorel_C]

Ive thought about it, but theres some days it just takes me longer to recover and some days shorter then others. So ive come to a conclusion, F da watch

[BOUNCER 01]

Its best to get your breath back then carry on with the next and so on.

[ccsranker]

I subscribe to the "12 deep breaths" method as well between sets. My gym also has a clock (with second hand) so it could be used as a reference as well.

[Igifuno]

i like to switch it up between methods. sometimes i like to take a couple minutes especially between heavy sets but sometimes i watch the second hand and give myself 120 seconds before starting whether i feel fully recovered or not. it's good to keep your muscles guessing sometimes.

[the big lebowski]

i like to switch it up between methods. sometimes i like to take a couple minutes especially between heavy sets but sometimes i watch the second hand and give myself 120 seconds before starting whether i feel fully recovered or not. it's good to keep your muscles guessing sometimes.

ya i beleive the same, and i use to watch the second hand on the clock but that was so annoying so i decided to get a stopwatch instead

[ebjack]

When bulking and using heavy weight low reps..I rest 2.5-3 min between sets. I used to estimate the time and would end up not getting a minimum of six reps and it would piss me off..Since using the watch, I know exactly how much I have rested and I don't screw up my set.

I'm very meticulous about my gym time...maybe to a fault.

[perfectbeast2001]

I wait for HR to return to near baseline

[MFT81]

I actually sometimes use songs that play in the gym, I try to get one set plus my rest period done within one avg song or 3 full sets with rest during one Tool Song.

[Property of Steroid.com]

If I'm warming up, I go as fast as I can load plates and my partners finish their sets, if I'm at max effort sets (for me that's in the 3-5 rep range), then I take until I feel ready.

[NOREGRETS]

I wait for HR to return to near baseline

Same here. I use a HR watch.

[RANA]

I use a stop watch - 1 minute rest upper body, 1:30 - 2 minute for legs.

[jackjackson]

I use a stop watch, I only seen 1 other person, Other than that I check the huge clock out on the wall
Or I check what second my song is at on my ipod then add 30 secs to that

[goober48]

Yeah I use a stop watch also. If im doing heavy sets of something I try to give myself 2 mins rest

[nietzsche0904]

personally i don't think any set "time" should be allocated for between sets, maybe if you are supersetting or rest pausing. but rest is meant to be just that, enough to catch your breath and allow you to put your most into the next set, but not long enough that you begin getting sluggish and bored