Newbie Question - Sets in a row?

GummyHuman
GummyHuman Posts: 193 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Sorry if this has been covered. I did try the search before posting, but could find the answer.

I am wondering whether you should do all of the sets of one exercise before you move on to the next exercise, or should you do one set of each in a rotation? Or does it matter?

Replies

  • FindingMyPerfection
    FindingMyPerfection Posts: 702 Member
    I do all sets then move to the next exercise. I feel I can hit the muscle better if I stay focused on one movement. There are people who prefer circuit it style training but for me I fear hurting myself jumping form one to the next like that.
  • keithemp
    keithemp Posts: 71
    I am wondering whether you should do all of the sets of one exercise before you move on to the next exercise, or should you do one set of each in a rotation? Or does it matter?

    Short answer, it doesn't really matter. Do what you feel like.

    I like using circuits when I'm training my arms because I want to spend less time at the gym. Doing circuits between a biceps, triceps and shoulders exercise lets me finish my arms in about 30 minutes.
  • murphy612
    murphy612 Posts: 734 Member
    I'm not sure it matters, but I'm not positive. I do circuit style because it doesn't take as much time. When doing sets of the same exercise you rest in between, but rotating to another exercise using another set of muscles and not resting I get done faster.
  • qballjr13
    qballjr13 Posts: 174 Member
    It depends on your program. If you are bulking or trying to build muscle then do all of your sets together. If you doing a HIIT type of program then you would cycle your way through the exercises.
  • just_Jennie1
    just_Jennie1 Posts: 1,233
    It depends.

    If you're doing super sets or giant sets then you do one set of the exercises back-to-back, rest, second set back-to-back etc.

    I personally do all sets of one exercise before moving on to the next.
  • mjudd1990
    mjudd1990 Posts: 219 Member
    I prefer doing all sets on one exercise then moving to the next but you can add techniques like supersets (doing a set of one exercise then immediately do a set of a second exercise without a rest between the two and then rest afterwards) usually for antagonistic muscle groups like back/chest or biceps/triceps. You can do giant sets which is same thing but with 3 exercises back to back instead of just 2. Drop sets are another option where you do as many reps as you can, drop the weight and do as many reps as you can, and repeat several times. Or you can straight up circuit train where you just do one set of each exercise then jump to a new one and then repeat the whole thing several times. Just be sure you are aware of how much equipment you are "reserving" if you are circuit training because a huge pet peeve of a lot of gym goers is circuit trainers who try to hoard equipment and not let anyone else use it.
  • GummyHuman
    GummyHuman Posts: 193 Member
    Thanks all for the info! :flowerforyou:
  • rabblerabble
    rabblerabble Posts: 471 Member
    A few days a week I do pyramids where I have (for example) one set of 15 reps of a small weight, a short rest, 12 reps of a larger one, another rest, followed by 10, 8, and then for the last set on the largest weight, I aim for 8 but keep going until failure. Then I"ll move onto a new exercise on a different body part.

    Then on Saturday I do a circuit where I hit about 7 different exercise all with only enough time between them to move into position, and/or grab another set of dumbbells for the next set. At the end of the 7 sets, I rest a few minutes and the repeat that a few more times. Gets the blood pumping by the end of each circuit.

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