Resting is very important for your Workout Recovery and the growth of your muscles. During your workout, you will start to break down your muscles because of the tremendous stress you have put them through. Your muscle cells split and your muscles for a short time will shrink right after your workout. When the workout is over, your muscles will look bigger but that is because the blood is rushing to the muscle for repair. The growth of the muscle only happens after the workout is over. Once the work out is over, your muscles will immediately start to recover.

Depending on how much you pushed yourself during the workout will determine how long you need to recover. For an intense workout, three days will be a good time for a complete muscle recovery. For an easy to normal workout, two day will suffice for a complete recovery. Also, some of your muscles will recover quicker then others. For example, your chest muscles will need more time to recover after a workout then lets say your abs or calf muscles.

Another workout recovery aspect of resting is the time between your sets. Too long of a rest, and the muscles will start the recovery process too soon and you will not get the maximum growth from that workout. Too short of a rest and your muscles will not recover enough to finish the remaining sets and you will over work the muscle resulting in the loss of muscle mass. I like to keep my rest intervals between 60 to 90 seconds. This will give me enough time for the muscle to recover so I can finish my sets and not too much time so that the muscle starts to fully recover for growth.

Henry Chervenka