The Relationship Between Sets, Repetitions and Loads

Most bodybuilding beginners keep on reading these terms on almost every bodybuilding website without a clear definition of them. They are taken as completely self explanatory and understood the same way. However for some of you who like to have a clear definition here it is.

Repetition (Rep)

A Repetition is one completion of any exercise: one squat,one chin-up, one arm curl.

Set

A set is the selected number of repetitions before you rest.

Rest

The rest interval is the time between sets.

Repetition Maximum

Repetition Maximum is your personal best or the most you can lift once in any exercise.

So how do you know how many reps, sets and what rest time is best for you? Here’s how it works in broad terms. The finer details are for you and your trainer to work on.

• Strength training has the most weight, least number of repetitions and longest rest.
  
  
• Hypertrophy or muscle size training utilizes lighter weights, more repetitions and less rest time.
  
  
• Strength endurance has less weight again, with more repetitions and even less rest.
  
  
• Power training involves lighter weights and longer rests while concentrating on the speed of the lift.
  
  

Now these are general principles, yet people do all sorts of things with the combination of sets, reps, rest and exercise type to find the best combination for them.