Killing time in between sets?

[hellomycognomen]

What do you guys do in between sets?

After I annotate my notes I usually like to walk around especially on leg day until my rest time is up. Sometimes I will just sit and watch the gym tv.

Anyways this is just a curious topic, chime in if you like.

-Cheers

[73rr]

Count until it's time to start my next set. This way I keep a good tempo and I don't take to long of a break

[hellomycognomen]

Count until it's time to start my next set. This way I keep a good tempo and I don't take to long of a break

Haha I used to do the same, now I keep a stop clock going on my phone. An additional 30sec of rest may not seem like much but it makes a world of difference to your CNS. I find the stop watch more accurate.

[novastepp]

What do you guys do in between sets? After I annotate my notes I usually like to walk around especially on leg day until my rest time is up. Sometimes I will just sit and watch the gym tv. Anyways this is just a curious topic, chime in if you like. -Cheers

I keep to 60 seconds to 90 seconds between sets. I prefer my intensity to be high and remain high. I concentrate on trying to catch my breath then I make sure my music is where I want it to return to my mental zone. By that time I'm slapping myself in the face, taunting myself in the mirror, and returning to the iron.

[hellomycognomen]

I keep to 60 seconds to 90 seconds between sets. I prefer my intensity to be high and remain high. I concentrate on trying to catch my breath then I make sure my music is where I want it to return to my mental zone. By that time I'm slapping myself in the face, taunting myself in the mirror, and returning to the iron.

Haha Been there brother. I invoke a similar mental pump during my heavy chest day. Nothing beats kicking up the aggression and crushing the set.

[Bio-Active]

Usually finish the song I'm listening to and then go to the next set

[Buster Brown]

In leg day I sit between sets .....I wouldn't stand on my hands so why do it to your legs as you blow them away. I power build more or less so my first compound movement (after a light warm up exercise) my rep scheme from 8/6/5/3/3/3 to 8/8/6/6/5/4 (you guys get the point) during this exercise I go when I am ready to go. The remainder of the workout I try to keep rest between sets to a minimum. Accessory exercises I will take 45-60 seconds and keep it moving because there is no point to extended breaks as all of the heavy work has been performed. I don't get caught up in a watch anymore and just train instinctively.......

[Splifton]

I try to remember to breath and not hit my head on any dangling lat pulldown bars.

[marcus300]

I try and recover from my working set, I feel like I am on the edge of dying so trying to recover and bring myself down and then get ready mentally for what ever is coming next. Pre and post working set is a very hard time form me this is due to how I train and what I have to do on my working set.

[NACH3]

Edit** I read it wrong - wrote how long I try and go between sets...

Recover from that eorking set which has yiur eyes shaking seeing stars and collapsing then pound some water recover to the best of my abilities as im adding or taking away plates for my next set and back right at it

[TheTaxMan]

Drink water and get straight back into it,
I train at home so play with my baby boy inbetween

[AR's King Silabolin]

Look in the mirror, feel the pump, pose, stretch, squize the muscles, especially when training chest.
Not talk to others, look at TV.....
But sometimes i look at my cellphone to see more messages from girls and raise testo that way.-)

[CaptainGoose]

Start my stop watch right after I'm done the set. Mark down the completed or uncompleted reps/set in my log book. Then after take a sip of water, look in the mirror, tinder, change the song I'm listening to. I try not to socialize because that messes up the rhythm of my rest time but sometimes it happens. I feel like a dick when I cut someone off and say I gotta do a set lol

[Khazima]

Depends on a few things, during my main work (squat bench deadlift and their close variations) I might rest 5+ minutes at a time so I'll sit down/reply to my girlfriend/text clients/chat to people then go whenever I feel fully recovered.

If I'm doing accessory/hypertrophy focused work the rest times are 30-90 seconds so I'll usually walk around/reply to a text quickly/get a drink or just sit there.

All of the above I'll do after the 10-15 seconds it requires to gain my composure/get my breath back.

[ggerman]

Trolling. Nothing.

[wellshii]

I workout at home,and doing 5x5 gives me more research time,on anything. When im doing minute rest,only time is to add plates.

[bartman314]

i try not to pass out or throw up. when my brain/body is almost back from that edge, time for another. try hit... there's nothing like it.

[Euroholic]

Think about the set i just did and the set to come.

Anyone else do this?

[Mr.BB]

If you have "time to kill" during sets you are doing something wrong.

There should only be enough time to catch breath (sometimes its hard just to do this), drink some water, add plates and concentrate on next set.

In my gym there's a bunch of morons that dont even break a sweat, chatting around and browsing phones between sets...

[73rr]

If you have "time to kill" during sets you are doing something wrong.

There should only be enough time to catch breath (sometimes its hard just to do this), drink some water, add plates and concentrate on next set.

In my gym there's a bunch of morons that dont even break a sweat, chatting around and browsing phones between sets...

Ppl got to check there Facebook u now!!! Lol I hate seeing that and then seeing them complain in the locker room that nothing has changed for them.

[kelkel]

If you have "time to kill" during sets you are doing something wrong.

There should only be enough time to catch breath (sometimes its hard just to do this), drink some water, add plates and concentrate on next set.

Bingo!

[musclestack]

In leg day I sit between sets .....I wouldn't stand on my hands so why do it to your legs as you blow them away. I power build more or less so my first compound movement (after a light warm up exercise) my rep scheme from 8/6/5/3/3/3 to 8/8/6/6/5/4 (you guys get the point) during this exercise I go when I am ready to go. The remainder of the workout I try to keep rest between sets to a minimum. Accessory exercises I will take 45-60 seconds and keep it moving because there is no point to extended breaks as all of the heavy work has been performed. I don't get caught up in a watch anymore and just train instinctively.......

^^Exactly how I train. I also power build.

[novastepp]

Haha Been there brother. I invoke a similar mental pump during my heavy chest day. Nothing beats kicking up the aggression and crushing the set.

Heck yeah! I take more time pumping myself up for squats, deads, bench press, etc than it takes me to perform the set. I figured I get about 40 seconds to dial it in after breathing and lightly stretching and flexing.

[Splifton]

While on this topic...

Would maintaining a mild/moderate level of isometric contraction in the target muscle being worked during this period of killing time be a beneficial habit? Sometimes on my chest workout, I'll cross my fingers in a way that my palms face outward while pushing out. It helps to fully contract the pectoralis major/minor in my experience, but also furthers the duration of "burn" in my muscles as well as maintaining the pump. I've only been able to have success practicing this with my chest due to relative inexperience and poor mind-muscle connectivity.

[tarmyg]

I find this a hilarious question, no offense to the OP I hope. One of my favorite guys wrote an entire blog article once called "What To Do In Between Sets To Maximize Growth" with the simple answer being "resting/chilling/doing nothing".

[brazilian10]

What do you guys do in between sets?

After I annotate my notes I usually like to walk around especially on leg day until my rest time is up. Sometimes I will just sit and watch the gym tv.

Anyways this is just a curious topic, chime in if you like.

-Cheers

Random question but how long do you wait in between sets?
What is it recommended?

[hellomycognomen]

I find this a hilarious question, no offense to the OP I hope. One of my favorite guys wrote an entire blog article once called "What To Do In Between Sets To Maximize Growth" with the simple answer being "resting/chilling/doing nothing".

Haha. It just came to me out of curiosity since I like to walk around the gym especially in between heavy leg day sets. I felt like people were judging me, like wtf is this guy doing just walking around. Not that I care but a 3 min rest can be a long time.

I don't subscribe to the HIT style of training so inter set rest periods are very important.

[hellomycognomen]

Random question but how long do you wait in between sets?
What is it recommended?

Depends on many things here are a few:

1. The training philosophy you subscribe to (intensity vs volume vs auto-regulation, etc).
2. The amount of load you are lifting. ie the heavier the load the longer the rest period will be for full recuperation.
3. Your training goals (strength, power, endurance, etc)

* keep in mind that muscle recovery takes place faster than CNS recovery, so while you may feel ready to go your CNS may not be. Here accurate timing is important, those extra 30sec can make the difference.

[jackfrost88]

Stretch, check phone, drink water or sit.

[Ashop]

What do you guys do in between sets?

After I annotate my notes I usually like to walk around especially on leg day until my rest time is up. Sometimes I will just sit and watch the gym tv.

Anyways this is just a curious topic, chime in if you like.

-Cheers

I only rest for 1min and 30 seconds so I take some air in and drink some water. I typically don't move off or away from whatever piece of equipment I'm using.

[tcw]

I rest only enough to finish my next set. Sometimes that means only 30 seconds. Sometimes its up to 4 or 5 minutes depending on how I feel. You can't go high intensity low rest between sets more than 30 days without burnout. You'll see... Get back to me after you trained for 20 years.

[Trapology]

I normally get it, find something to walk to with a decent distance, walk back and do my next set.

[bigjohnny1]

Keep a water bottle next to you. Drink some and hit the weights back.

[45lb]

Track my set on my iPhone, start the timer for rest, take a drink, walk around till next set.

[MSphysique]

I fill in my little black book with my workout in it, updating it on my most recent set, then I get straight back into it

[flip888]

I find that if I do anything at all I can get too distracted and it can mess up my workout. I usually just stand there till its time to lift again. I'm a really focused guy but if I get distracted I'll focus on whatever distracts me

[username101]

Go straight onto another exercise mate, don't waste time sitting around doing nothing. :P

[Scabtree]

I usually talk to my self quietly. That way, people won't touch my weights, or ask me to spot them or some other foolish think like that. The worst is 'Do ya mind if I work in a couple sets with ya'. I hate that.

So talking to yourself diminishes the potential for these grievances by making people think you a little nuts. I suggest you try it.

[MuscleScience]

In between exercises I try to do a tabata style workout. I will do high intensity Cardio from 2-4 minute then hit up my next exercise.

Between sets I like to get another body part in like calves, abs, shoulders etc. I like to keep my HR up, intensity and focus high and efficiency crisp. I like the gym and all, but I want to be in and out. Plus breaking up my cardio keeps me good about doing it.

[Allstar118]

I just breathe in and out, focusing on how my body feels. Sometimes walk over to the water fountain to stay hydrated.

And sometimes I stare at cute guys in the mirror... :P