Rest Between sets

What do you do? I feel goofy just sitting around waiting to do the next set?

Thanks in advance.

How long are you resting for? You could jump rope in the mean time.

I really haven't timed it, just until my muscles don't feel as sore and I can't stand waiting around anymore :)

I'd time it if I were you - 60 seconds maybe, unless you are following a routine that specifies otherwise.

Original Post by lossfast:

What do you do?

Flex in the mirror.

I time it.  I don't get bored in 60 seconds.

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by lossfast:

What do you do?

Flex in the mirror.

And, according to the avatar Spiro drew for you, take calls on your cell.

I like doing mobility exercises and all the "little stuff" like rotator cuff drills between sets - unladen YTWL or wall slides don't impede recovery from squats and doing them between heavy sets means you actually get them in. I'm also very fond of supersets where you pair a push/pull or an upper/lower exercise and switch between them, so your legs are recovering while you're doing front raises or some of the detail work that otherwise gets skipped.

 Depends on your training goals though - if you're doing a strength workout at 90-95% of your 1RM you need to wait pretty long for optimal neural recovery, if you're doing lactic acid threshold training or circuits/complexes for fat loss you only wait long enough to stop seeing spots in front of your eyes.

Original Post by amethystgirl:

And, according to the avatar Spiro drew for you, take calls on your cell.

 If I don't take those calls, how are the other people at the gym going to know how popular I am?

I just try to move around a little -- sort of pacing, and try to stretch out the shoulders, neck, etc. 

Sometimes If I'm wiped out (ie. last night after doing RDLs) I just collapse on the floor for a minute and then get back up and start again. 

I spend the time trying to psych myself for the next set!  And maybe making a note in my workout log.  I often do alternating sets, so my rest time is pretty much taken up getting ready for the next set.

maybe alternate push/pull or upper/lower sets with a shorter rest time

I drink water.  I work with a trainer, and she's generally pretty strict about keeping me to 15 seconds between sets.  It's killer, but it produces (literally) strong results.  I also agree with watergirl: you can pick two exercises and switch between them with no rest as long as they involve different muscle groups.  For instance, I'll do low-rows and chest presses side-by-side.

I also do the "collapse on the floor for 60" routine. Bet that looks goofier than just sitting around...

I mostly do supersets with very little rest between sets.

I usually do about 10 jumping jacks.  That will keep your heart rate going strong.

Either that, or I stretch the muscles I just worked to keep them limber.

--J