Questions tagged [sets]
The sets tag has no usage guidance.
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"Before failure" sets - a good idea?
I learnt that sets till failure have different drawbacks like increased risk of injury, overtraining, fatigue and potentially less muscle growth in the long term (here and here, for example).
The ...
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2
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Why is a high number of sets more effective for muscle growth?
There are plenty of studies that suggest that a higher number of sets is better for building muscle, but no study I have seen addresses why it's true, if it is true.
Progressive overload seems to be ...
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Counting sets when doing supersets and multi-bodypart bodybuilding workout splits
So I am developing a workout program that combines strength training with some more athletic cardio/conditioning work. So I workout about 5 days a week. I usually do strength work on the first day, ...
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Pros and cons of very long breaks between sets (eg 1h+)?
Over the past few weeks I've started to "fit in" a set or two of weight lifting / pull ups (to failure) throughout my day.
I don't have time to dedicate a full hour to working out, and I ...
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Is it a good idea to reduce resistance with each set?
My workout is mostly tension-focused with two sets per exercise. I can't perform as well in my second sets so I'm kind of incentivised to cheat, not to do quality reps to the same extent as I do in my ...
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What are "touch-up sets", and are they really important?
Jeff is a good guy, but sometimes I just don't get what he's saying. What are "touch-up sets", and are they really important? Why? I struggle to understand even the first sentence
With a ...
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What is a set in weekly volume?
If one performs multiple "rounds" with only 30 to 60 seconds of rest, are they considered to be different sets or just one really big set? What about 15 seconds of rest, or 120 seconds of rest? Where ...
user33399
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Is circuit training superior to conventional weight training?
I know that there have been studies that show that more rest between sets, given the same volume, leads to significantly more gains, at the expense of more time in the gym, so circuit training would ...
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Should weight be reduced in succession with sets to achieve a targeted repetition count?
Is it best to aim for a set number of repetitions and fall short of the goal, or is it better to reduce weight to allow yourself to maintain achievement of that target rep count for each subsequent ...
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How are people doing "to-failure" sets of the same repetition count multiple times per session without failing to hit their count on subsequent sets?
I am struggling to understand how people pre-determine their desired rep counts for each set of a training session.
For example, in another recent question, I saw this schedule posted, and it is a ...
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Differences in unilateral set
I often see people doing unilateral exercises at the gym, but almost none of them do the same thing.
For instance, if someone wants to do X sets of Y reps of an exercise unilaterally, they can do :
...
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Effective way to increase number of push up reps per set?
If I do push ups using four sets like this: 40, 30, 20, 10 (100 in total), with 3 min intervals between sets...
Which of the following (A or B) would be more effective to do the next workout day (...
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Should I adjust the intensity (weight) between sets of weighted pull ups?
I'm training weighted pull-ups to increase my 1 RM. My understanding is that I should do 5 reps or less. My question is should I adjust the weight each set to keep hitting 5 reps? Or should I just ...
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Depreciating repetition after each set
I am doing jump lunges as one of my exercise(. I read online that you should be able to do 8-12 reps in 4-5 sets with 45-60 sec rest in between. In the first set I was able to complete 12 jump lunges(...
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In between sets — what to do? [closed]
I am trying to gain strength, which leaves a lot of rest time in between sets (3-5 minutes). I am a beginner and have no clue what to do in between sets! I kind of just dag around. What are some ...
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Pull-ups: What are the pros and cons of doing a big number of sets?
This question refers to pull-ups mostly, as I tend to always do a bigger number of sets of pull-ups, hoping it will increase my pulling strength. Is this, for example (where each number is a number of ...
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What is the best way to arrange your sets at the gym? [closed]
So let's say today I'm doing back, and biceps. For simplicity, let's assume I want to do 3 different exercises to target by back (Back 1, Back 2, and Back 3), and 3 different exercises to target my ...
user23500
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Interpreting descriptions of sets
Many strength training programs describe sets something like this:
3 sets 8-10 reps, 10-12 reps, 13-15 reps
I'm not sure what this actually means.
Does it mean, 8-10, 8-10, 8-10 (drop the weight ...
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Workout to the failure is enough to get stronger. What is the need to have sets?
As far as I understand, push the muscle to the failure state in 5 to 15 reps will help me increase muscle growth production. If I need to do more than 15 reps to get failure, I simply build endurance, ...
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More sets with smaller weight vs. more reps with higher weight
I have read the old saying that one should focus on more weight and fewer reps for muscle gain and vice versa for endurance gain. I have also read about most exercises that a set should be between 8 ...
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Deadlift: Does it count as a set if you stand up after each repetition?
Does it count as a set if you stand up after each repetition during deadlifts (to take a deeper breath and brace more properly) which also includes resetting your grip?
Background: I am training for ...
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Should you do more than one exercise per set?
I currently do squats, barbell curls, sit ups and bench press all in one go- consecutively -THEN i take a break and repeat a few more times before moving on.
I was wondering if i was taking the ...
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108 Surya Namaskar - What are they counting
I'm not sure if I should post here, or on Hinduism forum, as it is Yoga and Power workout.
I have been doing Surya Namaskar in the morning. I am comfortable at 30 rounds.
But according to tradition,...
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How to hit prescribed reps in last sets?
For gaining muscle, you usually have to do between 8-15 reps with multiple sets.
My problem is, for example, if I do close grip chin ups in my first set cleanly and without cheating 8 reps, and, as I ...
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Workout effectiveness
It's my 3rd week going to gym. I'm 24 y.o. 87kg, 172cm male. Previously I only did some pull-up and dips. It's 3 times a week
1st day - chest, shoulders, biceps
2nd day - back, triceps
3rd day - ...
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Difference between same repetition on each set and limit repetition on each set [duplicate]
What is the benefit difference between doing a move 20x3 and getting exhausted at the end and doing the same move up to the limit each set (28,20,13)
I am currently waiting 1min between each set and ...
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How to keep a specific rhythm during sets?
I would like to keep a consistent rhythm during sets and reps (Like 4 seconds down, hold 1s, 4 s up, pause 1s).
Any tips for how to do this? What would ideal cues look/sound like?
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Why not just increase the number of sets?
Suppose that you want to gain muscle mass by using a pair of dumbbells which are NOT so challenging for you anymore.
You could probably increase the resistance with heavier weights, but you train at ...
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On the influence of the total number of sets, particularly with regard to tendon progress
I am staying away from the "as-much-as-you-can". Now, in the dumbbells part of my workout I simply mimic a linear load progression at fixed number of reps, á la SL5x5. I just use smaller increments ...
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On a 3x5 program, can I do 4x5 or 5x5 if I'm able to?
If I'm many months in to Starting Strength (which prescribes 3 sets of 5 at the work weight), but I can do 4 or 5 sets, would this be advisable?
I know I could just try it, and if I start stalling, ...
user4644
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What is the difference between one and several sets - With the same level of soreness?
What is the difference between doing just one set and several sets in one training session, if you train to the same level of post training soreness?
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How to superset effectively?
I am just starting to incorporate some dumbbell exercises in my workout. I try to reduce pauses between exercises to get more stuff done in the same time and spend less time waiting.
At the moment I ...
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Why are strength programs made the way they are - much of the same, regular intervals, same program for a long time
The strength training programs I have seen typically have:
Few exercises
Many sets of each
Do the same program for a few months then change - Usually for example on kind of pull-down replaced with a ...
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How many sets and reps should I do as a beginner?
About a year ago, I asked a question looking for a list of beginner dumbbell exercises. A user suggested this helpful website, which I promptly bookmarked. Having procrastinated for the past 10 months ...
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How many sets per muscle?
My current program consists of a 5 day workout. Each muscle group (say chest for example) has 3 different exercises divided in 4 sets of 12 repetitions. Tempo is 2 seconds down and 1 up.
Monday/...
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Recommended repetition speed on weight lifting
I am interested to know what is the recommended speed for each repetition on weight lifting.
I have noticed that doing 4 seconds (2-up 2-down) makes my muscles very big but the amount of weight I can ...
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Is it sets per muscle or sets per exercise?
When doing an exercise with the goal in mind of doing 5 sets per exercise, are those 5 sets for the muscle or for the exercise? Meaning as follows; if i want to do both flat and incline bench presses ...
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Any benefits to doing really low or really high number of reps per set?
The lowest I have gone is 6 reps per set for heavier weights and up to 20 reps for lighter weights. I will often do a high number of sets when I use the pyramid method, ranging from 8 to 20 reps ...
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Change grip between sets?
Is it useful to change the grip between sets? If I'm doing lat pulldown or seated rows, is it helpful to switch from narrow to wide grip between sets? Or am I diluting the value of doing multiple ...
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Which is which in XxY specifications (i.e. 5x5, 3x5, etc.)?
When specifying sets and reps like 5x5, 3x5, (in general, XxY), which is which?
It seems like it usually means "X sets of Y reps." but on some forums I see logs that seem to indicate that either they ...
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How long should I rest in between sets?
If my goal is size.
EDIT: Since other people with potentially different goals than mines are likely to see this question, it would be good if your answer includes the optimal rest times for different ...
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