Everything You Need to Know About Sets, Reps & Rest Periods

A set is a specified period of time you’re doing an exercise

• Defining sets helps you define reps, rounds, volume
• Multiple sets will lead to greater improvement compared to a single set

Sweet spot: 9-18 sets per body part, per week

• There’s an upper limit of what you can tolerate – and a sweet spot of what will give you the best results – maybe you can do 18 sets but 14 will give you great results
• The goal is the do as few sets as you can get away with to elicit results

The fitness level and genetic potential of an individual plays a role in the number of sets needed

Two approaches to try:

1. Fewer sets with more exercises
2. More sets with fewer exercises

It’s important to practice lifts and improve movements  

Stay consistent with the set range for 3-4 weeks, assess progress, then try another route

Superset: two exercises together with no rest

• Supersets can be the same body part or opposing body part
• Supersets work particularly well when cutting calories and will use lighter weights

Drop set: finish a set at a particular weight then drop weight and hit the next set with no rest

Rep: one full completion of an exercise

• Reps get the muscle to move with resistance and send muscle-building stimulus
• For strength building, stay between 1-30 reps – anything higher becomes more cardio like
• Working with higher reps elicits a different response from the body than lower reps

Higher reps: weight is lighter, controlling breathing, squeezing at the top,

Lower reps: weight is much heavier, bracing, holding breath, driving with CNS

• All rep ranges build muscle and burn calories
• Vary rep ranges every 3-4 weeks to keep body adapting and changing  

• Your body gets used to working at a certain tempo but it’s important to manipulate
• Tempo plays a huge factor with reps: when lifting heavy it’s faster, move explosive tempo; when going for a pump it’s slower, more controlled
• Each variable of tempo can be manipulated depending on your goal
• Get the mechanics of the movement then alter the tempo and have fun with it
• Adjust the weights according to the tempo you are working with

Without rest, the body uses energy that encourages endurance and stamina instead of muscle and you’re basically doing cardio with weights

• Resting allows the body to replenish energy – the body needs to go through a specific energy change
• Rest should be 30 seconds – 3 minutes depending on the goal
• Same rules apply: change up lengths of rest periods
• Active rest: stretch between sets if you absolutely can’t sit still
• A guaranteed way to break through training plateau – Don’t change your routine – just manipulate reps and rest period