Coaches often discuss the optimal rest intervals between sets for various training objectives. One common “rule of thumb” is that for maximal strength you want “complete” rests, and for hypertrophy you need “incomplete” rests between sets.
HOWEVER: You can never allow yourself to recover fully between sets, because if you rest long enough to remove all traces of fatigue, you’ve also rested long enough to remove all traces of the neural drive that accumulated from previous sets. So the trick is to find the “sweet spot” on that continuum, where fatigue has been diminished, yet where you’ve still got some neural drive remaining from previous work.
One of the most significant epiphanies I’ve had about my own training is that, being fairly average on the fiber-type ratio, I don’t need as much rest between sets as I’d intuitively think. Here’s why: if you’re neurologically superior (predominantly fast-twitch) you’re tapping into a much higher percentage of your true potential when you lift heavy…therefore, you need longer rests. BUT, if you’re a slow-twitch dominant geek like I am, whenever you lift “heavy,” it’s not really as high a percentage of your capacity as you think. So, 1) you don’t really need the rest, and 2) if you rest too long, you’ve lost a good bit of the neural drive that you so preciously need.
Rests Between Sets
Contact Me contact@brinkzone.com
-
Energy Drinks Often Fail to List Caffeine Content
Will Brink, , General Brinkzone Stuff, General Health, 6
Are You Over Dosing On Caffeine? I’m a big fan of caffeine as a rule, and I love a...
-
Training With The Kettle Clamp!
Will Brink, , General Brinkzone Stuff, Product Reviews, Training Programs, Videos, 12
When at the Arnold Classic, I’m always on the lookout for something new and interesting for training equipment, and...
-
Thank You
Will Brink, , General Brinkzone Stuff, 124
Click Here To Check Them Out Click To Download Click To Download Click To Download Click To Download Click...
-
Protein "Spiking" Facts
Will Brink, , General Brinkzone Stuff, Scams & BS, Videos, 3
What is “protein spiking” and how common is it? Is it dangerous? I answer those Q and more in...
-
Join The BrinkZone FaceBook Fan Page!
Will Brink, , General Brinkzone Stuff, 1
Fan Page for The BrinkZone! Gang, I just put up an official BrinkZone fan page on FaceBook, so if...
-
Making AlphaJoe Coffee: Short Version
Will Brink, , Bomb-Proof Coffee, General Brinkzone Stuff, Videos, 6
Here’s a quicky version of my making a batch AlphaJoe Coffee (aka Bomb Proof Coffee). The longer version is...
-
Are Teens Using (More) HGH?
Will Brink, , Bodybuilding, General Brinkzone Stuff, Videos, 7
Due to a recent study and media reports – and contact by the media to comment – on this...
-
FREE STUFF!
Will Brink, , General Brinkzone Stuff, Videos, 0
To grab your free reports briefly covered in this vid, go to “Free Stuff” at the top of the...
BrinkZone Authors
Categories
Recent Posts
- Oreo Cookies Better Than Statins For lowering LDL?! March 12, 2024
- Oreo Cookies Vs Statins?! March 7, 2024
- Lactoferrin: A Broad Spectrum Anti-Viral January 25, 2024
- Pragmatic Real World *Permanent* Weight Loss! November 10, 2023
- Psychology 101 Of Weight Loss November 2, 2023
- Creatine in Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome/Long Covid October 4, 2023
- Iron, The Key To Glucose Metabolism And Disease Prevention? September 27, 2023
- NAC Vs Gly-NAC Vs Glyteine Vs Whey! August 24, 2023
Recent Comments
- Stephen Cartwright on Process Training Vs. End Point Training
- Dan on Process Training Vs. End Point Training
- Jim on AlphaJoe Is HERE!
- Will Brink on Whey Isolates vs. Concentrates
- David Plyler on Iron, The Key To Glucose Metabolism And Disease Prevention?
Although i’m aware of the need for a certain amount, but not too much, rest between sets. What about a general period of rest every 8-10 weeks. I don’t mean pigging out and forgetting your diet, i mean a total 7 day lay off from training to let your body rest.
What do you or other readers feel about this.
I’d be grateful for any thoughts on the matter.
Hello Will:
My question: I am now drinking 1- quart of Gaterade during my workouts. Is this a good idea or not?
Homer
Ando, you could take that tack, but personally, I always assume that you should syncopate rest periods with unforeseen/unanticipated interruptions due to sickness, injury, travel, holidays, etc. These interruptions are going to occur periodically despite your best efforts, so why not use them as periodic “down” periods?