Do I Need to Take the Full Rest Between Sets?
Do I Need to Take the Full Rest Between Sets?
You’ll notice some workouts call for specific rest times — often 90 seconds between sets. If you’re wondering whether you really need to take all of it, here’s what you need to know.
If you’re in a muscle-building or bulk phase, yes — take the full rest. That recovery time is built in so you can bring your full strength to the next set. Rushing through it might make you feel like you're working harder, but it can actually reduce the quality of your lifts and slow your progress.
Now, if you're in a fat loss or body recomposition phase, it's a little different. You can shorten the rest periods to keep your heart rate up and increase the intensity — as long as your form doesn’t break down. The goal here is to move with purpose, not just to move faster.
This doesn’t mean you need to rush everything. Big lifts still need focus. But for accessory work or machines, trimming rest can help you stay in that fat-burning zone.
Quick rule of thumb:
Building muscle? Stick to the full rest time.
Burning fat? You can shorten it — just don’t get sloppy.
Train with intention. Rest is part of the program — not a pause in the workout, but a tool to match the goal.
