What exactly are sets and reps?

Question

What are sets and reps? I know that reps mean repetitions so im geussing that you have to repeat a set. Am i right or wrong. If I am correct then i dont understand the next part. What is a set? I cant repeat a set if i dont know how many exercises to do in a set. I am confused. Would somebody help me. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I did the bigger, faster, stronger program in college for football... this is how it works...

If you here someone say do 3 sets of 12 reps...

it means get on the bench and do the lift 12 times without stopping... when you do the 12 that is 1 set...

repeat the set up 12 2 more times...

therefore you have done 3 sets of 12 (reps)

Easier way of thinking about it... is if your benching... you lift the bar up. do 12 repetitions... after that SET the bar back down... that was 1 set

Put this in the easiest way I could. Hope it helps and good luck with the workouts. If you need any tips email me

[e-mail]

I train athletes and could help you if needed through email with some tips

Answer 2

Let say your doing pushups.

The instuctions may say do 10 reps for 3 sets.

That means:
Do 10 pushups or 10 repetitions
3 times

or

think of it like this:
rep 1 set 1
rep 2 set 1
rep 3 set 1
...
rep 10 set 1
stop rest 1 minute or less then...
rep 1 set 2
rep 2 set 2
...
rep 10 set 2
stop rest 1 minute or less then...
rep 1 set 3
rep 2 set 3
...
rep 10 set 3
done

Answer 3

Rep is how many times you do an exercise. A set is the number of diferent times you do the reps. So if I did 3 sets of bench press and the reps per set was 10, I would be doing 30 total bench press lifts. 10 for the 1st set, 10 for the 2nd set and 10 for the 3rd.
Reps are done normally 8-10 for strength training, more than 10 for endurance, 5 and less for powerlifting with big weight. Although there are modifications for all the above. And mixing it up is great for muscle growth.
Best of luck.

Answer 4

For each exercise, there is a certain movement right? so a rep is one of that movement (lets say for a dumbbell bicep curl, you are holding the dumbbell and curling it upwards towards your shoulder) so a rep is doing that moement once. You want to use a weight so that you can do about 10-12 reps and be at "failure" (when your muscle cannot do that movement another time) by the last rep, if you find that you can do more than 12 or 15 reps, you need to have heavier wieght.

If you were to do 12 reps or 15 or 10 or whatever to reach failure, that is a set. You should be doing about 3 sets for each excercise.

It sounds like you are new to lifting so be carefull to not try to do more than you know you are capable, good form is the most important part of doing an exercise even more so than the amount of reps and sets you do. If you have poor form, you will most likely hurt yourself. Don't be afraid to ask a trainer at your gym how to do something or for a spot.

Also, if you're just starting out, a key to either loosing weight, or building muscle is to eat properly and take good supplements. You will want to change your diet to include a lot of good lean protein from chicken or turkey, and to limit sugars and make sure to eat whole grain, oatmeal and red skin potatoes for carbs. Try to limit fats but include good oils and peanut butter is a good source of "good" fats.

For supplements (vitamins, minerals etc) check out the most effective all in one natural supplement I've found at

www.healthforwellness.net or
www.switchtosuccess.com/meghan

You can email me if you like at [e-mail] for more tips or suggestions.

hope this helps and good luck.

Answer 5

A set is, like you said, a set of repetitions. like 3 sets of 2 would mean, you do 2 reps in 3 sets. So 3 times. Usually about a minute in between sets.

If you go to a gym, most of the gyms will explain a basic workout plan for free to you.

Answer 6

reps are each time you complete a full movement in a perticular exercise....and sets are pre determined groups of reps...
for example, in bench pressing....lift the bar off the uprights, bring the bar to your chest, then press it back up until your arms are back in the upright and locked position...that is one rep...
if your perticular routine calls for 1 set of 25, then completing 1 rep 25 times equals 1 set

Answer 7

A set is simply doing repititions then finishing.Say you do 50 push ups.You just did one set of 50 reps.Your entire work out consists of many sets.It's that simple.So the work out consists of many sets.Say you bench press and do flyes then cable crossovers.You do one or more sets for each exercise.You bench then rest and bench again.You just did two sets.

Answer 8

Rep-Number of times you lift the weight
Set- The beginning of the next time you lift.

Answer 9

It means, Do 15 squats take a small break and do it again (x3) :)