Do This to get Stronger

If you’re doing your program at GAIN and stuff is starting to feel hard, or maybe harder than it should or usually does, there is one simple thing you can do to get more out of your workouts, strength and fitness.

Rest more.

When people see 4 rounds, or 5 rounds, they think, I need to complete these rounds quickly without any rest - and there is a time and a place for that. If we’re trying to get stronger though, a 90-second break can make the difference on a heavier weight feeling too hard or just right. As you work through the rounds, you accumulate fatigue. Your muscles get tired, your heart rate increases, blood is pumping to where it needs to go. Eventually things will feel harder than they should and your form could get sloppy.

Slow down!

Taking a minute, or two, or even sometimes up to 3 minutes is completely appropriate, especially for the big compound lifts typically completed at the start of the workout. Movements like squats, bench press, deadlifts, strict press, db snatch and the like.

To be clear, I’m not advocating for you to rest all the time. There’s a time and place to move quickly without rest, and there’s a time to slow down and let the body recover. If your main goal is to gain strength, slow down, rest a little more between rounds and you’ll be surprised at how much more weight you can add to the bar.

Justin Miner

@justinminergain