Optimal rest time between sets

[cmdubs]

I use to wait around 3 minutes between sets so that I could press more weight/reps. For the last couple of weeks I've been timing 1 minute breaks between each set. I can't use as much weight, but the workouts are real intense, much faster, my heart rate stays pretty elevated and I work up a huge sweat.

I left the gym 30 minutes earlier than usual last night using this technique. I never realized how much time I spent just sitting.

 

[Buddy_Christ]

definetly depends on what i'm doing. i've been doing a 5x5 routine for a while. when it was lighter, i could take shorter rest periods. as it's been getting heavier, however, it's been taking me much longer. last week i did 250 for 5x5 squats. that, for me, was real heavy. took me almost 40 minutes from the time i started warmup sets til i finished. i also took a lot of time stretching between sets. seemed like a long time, but if i wouldn't of taken my time, i don't think i would've gotten all the sets.

a lot of other stuff i move pretty fast on though. any big compound exercise i wait until i'm good and ready to go again. iso lifts usually get 1-2 minutes.