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What should you do when resting between sets?
- Thread starter Synpax
- Start date
bebasshome
Banned
1) drink water
2) mentally prepare youself for the next lift*
3) drink more water
* as far as mental preparation...I mean thinking "Yea...this weight is NOTHING, its beneath me.....its LIGHT weight, and its GOING DOWN!
Thats what I do anyway...but to each their own.
I usually stretch good AFTER a workout though, just as a precaution.
Brian
2) mentally prepare youself for the next lift*
3) drink more water
* as far as mental preparation...I mean thinking "Yea...this weight is NOTHING, its beneath me.....its LIGHT weight, and its GOING DOWN!
Thats what I do anyway...but to each their own.
I usually stretch good AFTER a workout though, just as a precaution.
Brian
Stretch the antagonist muscle!
From t-mag:
The Push This, Pull That Principle
Most people do successive sets of a particular exercise. They pump out 8 reps on the bench press, pick their nose for 60 seconds, and then do another 8 reps. This goes on until the muscle is properly pumped or the nose is properly picked.
However, if you do a set of bench press, rest briefly, and then do a set of an exercise that works the opposing muscle group — like a set of barbell rows, for instance — you get much better recuperation. This enables you to perform much better on the second set of bench press than you would have otherwise.
Similarly, if you stretch the opposing muscle group in-between sets of an exercise for the antagonistic muscle group, you’ll also get increased performance. Again, using bench press as an example, if you stretched your lats by pulling on an immobile post or bar, you’d "prime" your pecs for their next set of bench. With any luck, you could experience an increase in strength anywhere from 2 to 3%.
We’re not 100% sure why this happens, but you can bet it’s because of the nervous system.
From t-mag:
The Push This, Pull That Principle
Most people do successive sets of a particular exercise. They pump out 8 reps on the bench press, pick their nose for 60 seconds, and then do another 8 reps. This goes on until the muscle is properly pumped or the nose is properly picked.
However, if you do a set of bench press, rest briefly, and then do a set of an exercise that works the opposing muscle group — like a set of barbell rows, for instance — you get much better recuperation. This enables you to perform much better on the second set of bench press than you would have otherwise.
Similarly, if you stretch the opposing muscle group in-between sets of an exercise for the antagonistic muscle group, you’ll also get increased performance. Again, using bench press as an example, if you stretched your lats by pulling on an immobile post or bar, you’d "prime" your pecs for their next set of bench. With any luck, you could experience an increase in strength anywhere from 2 to 3%.
We’re not 100% sure why this happens, but you can bet it’s because of the nervous system.
Synpax
Well-known member
Hey WLhosch,
That is pretty reasonable. However I don't want to use any serious opposing muscle group work because those muscles are in recovery from the day before due to my splits.
Maybe T-bar with a very light weight opposite bench, or a few pushups between weighted chinups, etc. wuld do well.
Anyway, thanks so much for the response.
That is pretty reasonable. However I don't want to use any serious opposing muscle group work because those muscles are in recovery from the day before due to my splits.
Maybe T-bar with a very light weight opposite bench, or a few pushups between weighted chinups, etc. wuld do well.
Anyway, thanks so much for the response.
I think that you missed the main point Synpax. You don't have to do rows or chins on chest day, just stretch your lats out using any handy surface to grab. This is particularly beneficial if you just worked those antagonist muscles the day before--help today's workout and help recover from yesterday's!
The other point is that you DON'T want to keep stretching the agonist muscle WHILE you are using it; wait till you have finished to stretch it.
Give it a try and see for yourself!
The other point is that you DON'T want to keep stretching the agonist muscle WHILE you are using it; wait till you have finished to stretch it.
Give it a try and see for yourself!
