No rest between sets

sarahlucindac

Greetings! I’m fairly new to strength training and wanted some input on the way I’m approaching things. I have sort of a cardio approach and try to keep my heart rate up for the duration of my workout. I bounce back and forth between a set of exercises at a time, alternating sets between exercise A and B with no breaks in between until I’ve reached 4 sets of each (reps are usually 12-15 depending on the exercise). I then move on to alternate between exercises C and D, etc. I do about 10 different exercises per workout (takes me about 40 minutes) and then follow up with an hour of straight cardio at the end.

My goal is to increase my overall fitness level and muscle definition while also trying to lose weight. I eat around 1300 calories/day + around 50% of my workout calories (on heavy workout days, I might eat around 1700 calories)

Does this sound legit? I have lost 31 lbs since March and up until about a month ago I had only been hiking for exercise (10-20 miles/week) but I’m currently hiding from the summer heat in the gym.

Thoughts on my approach? Is it better to rest between sets? Anyone else try to make their weight lifting into a full on cardio event?

DancingMoosie

If you make your lifting more of a cardio event, you will probably not progress well on your lifts/strength. It really depends on your goals. If your goals are to get stronger and lift heavier, you need a progressive lifting routine. If you just want to increase your cardio and calorie burn, but also a little strength, circuit training is fine. It's part of why programs like 30 day shred and T25 are so popular.
Your muscle definition will come from losing the fat. If you do that and your muscles aren't really "popping" you might need to switch to more strength training.

Cherimoose

sarahlucindac wrote: »

Is it better to rest between sets?

Almost always, yes.

AnvilHead

Making weights into a cardio workout means you're not doing either one well. You'd be better served doing your weight program with appropriate rest between sets, then doing your hour of straight cardio at the end, rather than making your weights into a cardio workout and then doing more cardio.

sarahlucindac

DancingMoosie wrote: »

If you make your lifting more of a cardio event, you will probably not progress well on your lifts/strength. It really depends on your goals. If your goals are to get stronger and lift heavier, you need a progressive lifting routine. If you just want to increase your cardio and calorie burn, but also a little strength, circuit training is fine. It's part of why programs like 30 day shred and T25 are so popular.
Your muscle definition will come from losing the fat. If you do that and your muscles aren't really "popping" you might need to switch to more strength training.

sarahlucindac

Thanks for the input! I’m already as strong as I need or want to be, I’m after the definition and calorie burn.

shaf238

sarahlucindac wrote: »

Thanks for the input! I’m already as strong as I need or want to be, I’m after the definition and calorie burn.

In that case focus on cardio mixed in with a few sessions of moderate weight weight lifting

jemhh

sarahlucindac wrote: »

Thanks for the input! I’m already as strong as I need or want to be, I’m after the definition and calorie burn.

What you are doing is fine for your goals.

I'm more strength-oriented but superset nearly all of my upper body work. I offset the warm up sets of one exercise with working sets from another and/or rest for 1-1.5 minutes between the sets (e.g., set of rows, rest, set of bench, rest, set of rows, etc.) If your goal changes and you become more interested in building strength, you may want to change to something similar.

MeanderingMammal

sarahlucindac wrote: »

... and calorie burn.

Calorie burn doesnt come from having a high heart rate, in some circumstances a higher heart rate is an indication of a higher calorie expenditure. Resistance training isn't one of those circumstances.

Chieflrg

Fine for your goals. Just keep in mind if you are trying to increase your overall fitness, you will have to increase the amount of dosage at some point.