Question: How long should I rest between exercises? Answer: It depends on your goals and your current level of conditioning. If you’re just starting out I recommend resting just long enough after an exercise to not feel winded when starting the next. Depending on your condition you may not feel winded at all, especially since your…
Category Archives: Q&A
Q&A: Exercise Order And Performance
Question: Three of us started doing high intensity training together twenty five days ago (five workouts). We do the “Big Five” routine inspired by Body by Science and one of your books. Leg Press Pull Down Chest Press Seated Row Shoulder Press In that order. (Thinking legs first to get the best growth response?) We…
Q&A: Counting Repetitions Or Timing Sets For Better Form?
Question: If I keep try to keep accurate records, such as doing a certain weight for 4 reps (i.e, 80 seconds), I tend to start getting sloppy in my form just so I can lift that weight longer or use a heavier weight for the same number of reps. I seem to get a “better”…
Q&A: Soreness and Recovery Time
Question: I appreciate all the helpful information in your blog. I understand that experiencing soreness is not important as far as a determinant of a successful workout. The question then, is it an indicator of the least amount I should rest before the next workout? I currently train HIT as taught by Mike Mentzer (3…
Q&A: Determining The Starting Resistance For New Subjects
Question: How do you choose the right weights and reps on different exercises for a new client? Most of the trainers where I work either do one rep max tests or estimate one rep max based on how many reps they can do with a weight, then do a test with a percentage of that…
Q&A: How Much Rest Between Exercises
Question: How long should I rest between exercises if my goal is muscular strength and size increases? Answer: As a general rule you should rest as little as possible between exercises, moving from one to the next as quickly as you can while: being able to properly and safely get into and out of correct…
Q&A: Strict Chin Ups Versus Kipping Pull Ups
This is an updated version of my answers to questions asked by BodyweightCulture.com about strict versus kipping pull ups. The following are their questions (in bold), my answers, and some additional comments. Question: Exactly how are pull ups executed, when you and your pupils do them? Answer: I prefer to have trainees perform chin ups (supinated…
Q&A: Parallel Bar Dips
This is a response to a question about the best way to perform parallel dips in the comments section of the Ultimate Routine post. Since not everybody reads the comments section and I thought some people might find this helpful I decided to re-post it separately and expand on some of the points. Parallel bar…
Q&A: High Intensity Training for Seniors
This Q&A is a general response to several specific questions I’ve received through e-mail and comments on other posts regarding high intensity training for seniors. Question: Is high intensity strength training safe for seniors? Answer: Whether high intensity training is safe for any particular individual depends on their current health and physical condition. Certain conditions may…
Q&A: Repetition Speed, Recruitment and Stimulation
This Q&A is a response to several questions I’ve recently received. Since they’re all related I’m going to answer them together. Since intentionally moving slowly during exercise involves less than a maximum effort wouldn’t it reduce motor unit recruitment and the effectiveness of the exercise? No. Motor unit recruitment is determined by the amount of force…
