Need help with the definition of "sets"

[Brent]

I just bought a home gym, and have been told that using more weight in ONE set of 10 reps is better for building muscle, while using less weight but doing THREE sets of 10 reps is better for toning.

My question has to do with what exactly is meant by doing three sets. For example, if I'm doing multiple exercises (chest press, ab crunch, leg extension, etc), does three sets mean:

1) Doing three sets of chest presses, then three sets of ab crunches, then three sets of leg extensions, etc (completely finishing all three sets of one exercise, before moving on to do three sets of the next exercise, before moving on to do three sets of the next...)

or

2) Doing one set of chest presses, ab crunches, leg extensions, etc; then a second set of chest presses, ab crunches, leg extensions, etc; then a third set of all of them (doing one set each of several different exercises, then a second set of each of those same exercises, then a third set of each...)

Or does it matter??? I'm just new at this, and want to make sure I'm doing it the best way. Any clarification would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[TriZZle305]

My guess is that they meant 3 sets of each exercise... they couldve meant a giant or super set but i doubt it with those three workouts working completely different muscles

 

[Mudge]

If you want tone, dump bodyfat.

 

[Brent]

I guess I didn't ask my question very well. They did mean 3 sets of each exercise, but I'm trying to make sure I understand the right way to do that.

For instance, if I'm doing 3 sets of 3 different exercises, do I:

1) Do ONE set of Exercise A, then ONE set of Exercise B, then ONE set of Exercise C; before moving on to a SECOND set of Exercise A, a SECOND set of Exercise B, a SECOND set of Exercise C, etc?

OR

2) Do ALL THREE sets of Exercise A in a row, before moving on to do ALL THREE sets of Exercise B in a row, then move on to do ALL THREE sets of Exercise C in a row, etc?

Thanks again...!

 

[Destram]

#2

 

[Brent]

Thanks for the answer! How long is it best to "rest" in between each set then...?

 

[Destram]

Depends on how intense you want your workouts. If you are going for low volume, high intesity training you would have short rests and do few sets. Short rests being like 30 seconds. If you want to do high volume training you would probably want longer rest periods like over a minute. With shorter rests you will be able to do less weight but it will take less time because of the upped intensity.

 

[Scotty the Body]

It sounds like the routine you have is a full body workout?

If your looking to put on muscle, I would switch to a 3 or 4 day split where your working 1-2 muscle groupls per day and giving them 5-7 days rest before doing them again.

Full body workouts work well for a newbie but you will see progress come to a hault after a couple months of doing them.

 

[Brent]

Originally posted by Scotty the Body
It sounds like the routine you have is a full body workout?

If your looking to put on muscle, I would switch...

Yes, it is a full body workout. Is that all right, though, if I'm more interested in toning rather than building a lot of muscle? Thanks...

 

[Scotty the Body]

Full body workouts are fine, BUT.................Your muscles still need time to recover, so don't be doing full body workouts every day and expect your strength and size to improve cause after the first month or two it won't.

 

[Brent]

I'm on a schedule of 3 days a week, about 45 minutes at a time. Does that sound like a good routine?