Is 4 minutes between sets too much?

[Getter_done]

The sets feel too "easy" when i do 4 minutes in between compared to 3-3:30, am i waiting too long or is it fine? im referring to bench press, military press, and squats. i feel for heavy deadlifts i need the 4 minutes in between.

[kurent]

4 minutes is a bit much, but whatever works for you and doesn't lower the heart rate too much or relaxes the muscles.

[Black_Spit]

The sets feel too "easy" when i do 4 minutes in between compared to 3-3:30, am i waiting too long or is it fine? im referring to bench press, military press, and squats. i feel for heavy deadlifts i need the 4 minutes in between.

4 minutes is fine if that's how long you need.

[DanielBeauchamp]

Rest as long as you need to.

[TomMartin]

Too easy? Put more weight on the bar!

[austin.j.taylor]

my take is this: its not too long as long as your still warmed up and ready to lift. If it feels to long to you, or you want to get into better cardio vascular shape, cut out a minute and see how it affects lifts.

[Link815]

The weight was too light if you're ready to go again in 4 minutes.

[naturalguy]

It's not too long, at a meet you may be a lot longer than 4 minutes in between sets

[Mike.Moore]

A long time ago a great bench presser told me, rest as long as you need to, 5,10, 15 min, how ever long you need to recover and attack the next set and get what you're suppose to. Doesn't matter, take whatever time you need.

That being said, I try to get my warmups done as quickly as I can so I have more time to rest on the work sets. Lately, I have been able to cut my training down alot. Took me an hour to get my squatting in this weekend. After all these years, I like to finally start getting out of the gym earlier...

Although, as I read on a couple posts already, if its too easy after 4 minutes, the weight is too light. And yes, you will be waiting alot longer than 4 minutes in a meet.

[IcedEarth111]

if i did only 4 minutes betwwen sets, it would feel like cardio to me

[Retardo-pex]

The sets feel too "easy" when i do 4 minutes in between compared to 3-3:30, am i waiting too long or is it fine? im referring to bench press, military press, and squats. i feel for heavy deadlifts i need the 4 minutes in between.

Rest as long as you need to but don't neglect your overall conditioning. I used to take as long as I needed inbetween sets and that could be 5 mins or so for heavier squats and deads. Right now my I'm good to go around 3 mins which might not sound like a huge improvement but when you add it all up and you are still using heavier weights its significant.

[koyongi]

The weight was too light if you're ready to go again in 4 minutes.

Or, you're just in shape.

[Liftamulti]

Take as long as you need. If you need an extra minute or two of rest to move that weight, then take that extra time.

[Link815]

Or, you're just in shape.

I don't think I can even get off the bench, take my wraps and belt off, take all the weight off for Angelina, put mine back on, then put them back on and set up in 4 minutes..

[sharkweek50]

I don't think I can even get off the bench, take my wraps and belt off, take all the weight off for Angelina, put mine back on, then put them back on and set up in 4 minutes..

But, if you lifted alone. All you would need to do is sit up and chill for a minute. Maybe take the belt off and put it back on; which takes maybe 30 seconds.

[C0bra]

I go anywhere from 3 to 5 mins....depends on how heavy the set was and how I am feeling that day

[Doollas]

The responses in this thread are making me happy. I was always trying to cut my time in the gym down as much as possible and would feel like a wuss if it took me longer than 35 minutes on a high volume day to get my squats in. I follow RTS and the thought is that you should finish a high volume main lift in 30 minutes or so. I think I'll start taking my time more, more so after I cut down.

[isaku900]

I took 10 sets yesterday.

I started at 5:50pm, I finished at 7pm.

yay gear.

[jmt92]

however much you need.

[Doollas]

I took 10 sets yesterday.

I started at 5:50pm, I finished at 7pm.

yay gear.

This actually seems kind of quick to me for gear.

[isaku900]

This actually seems kind of quick to me for gear.

it may have been more like 7:45 now that I think about it.

my brain still isn't working right.

[gewaltiger]

sometimes i lay on the ground for 10min. 4min is absolutely fine. just make sure you are keeping your muscles warmed up!

[IcanMan]

destro

[Black_Spit]

I'm not anyone's example, but the only reason I rush at all is bc I feel like I'm hogging the Power Rack or Squat Rack, whichever I'm using.

I get there when the place opens @ 5, and I'll usually be vacating the rack between 545-6'ish.. And I know people are just hating my guts. That said, heavier bench/squat/deadlift stuff (90% and up) I probably average 5 minutes. On lighter stuff (and Shrugs/GM's/accessory, 2 minutes probably.

[Doollas]

I'm not anyone's example, but the only reason I rush at all is bc I feel like I'm hogging the Power Rack or Squat Rack, whichever I'm using.

I get there when the place opens @ 5, and I'll usually be vacating the rack between 545-6'ish.. And I know people are just hating my guts. That said, heavier bench/squat/deadlift stuff (90% and up) I probably average 5 minutes. On lighter stuff (and Shrugs/GM's/accessory, 2 minutes probably.

I wish I went to a gym where I felt I was hogging the squat rack (besides people waiting to do curls and hanging ab raises).

[Link815]

But, if you lifted alone. All you would need to do is sit up and chill for a minute. Maybe take the belt off and put it back on; which takes maybe 30 seconds.

Nope, I'd still take my sweet time. I'd say my average wait time is 5-7 minutes between my actual work sets. The only reason I hurry anymore is because I work 10-12 hours a day and the gym has lame hours.

hanging ab raises).

This! I can hang out in the squat rack for 2 hours, the only thing anyone uses it for is hanging ab raises.

[Doollas]

This! I can hang out in the squat rack for 2 hours, the only thing anyone uses it for is hanging ab raises.

There is this russian woman that is a F-in squat rack nazi with her ab raises...won't let me get in there at all and uses it for half hour. I hate this woman.

[Link815]

There is this russian woman that is a F-in squat rack nazi with her ab raises...won't let me get in there at all and uses it for half hour. I hate this woman.

I just take them down and throw them on the floor when I squat so no one asks. If they do, I'll let them do their ab raises while I take my 10 minutes between sets.

[Black_Spit]

I wish I went to a gym where I felt I was hogging the squat rack (besides people waiting to do curls and hanging ab raises).

Well that's what I meant actually. I'm at a commercial YMCA lol. There are one or two other guys who squat there (no deadlifters though), and there are two racks, so they can use the other one, but no, mostly they would just want it for shrugs/abs/curls, etc... Maybe I shouldn't care. It just starts to feel excessive when I'm on my third (last) exercise, and it's been an hour and I haven't left the rack.

[clorox_me]

I was waiting for a guy to finish benching at the gym yesterday. To do 4 singles it took him about 40-45 minutes.