Get mad 😂 but don’t shoot the messenger! It’s cardio 🤷🏻‍♀️

I was a group fitness junkie once upon a time, so I get it, nothing compares to the vibe of everyone doing the same workout, even moving in unison. It is an excellent motivator and a great way to start using weights. Way back when it got my 24 year old foot IN the door, and I have never looked back. BUT if you keep thinking those group fitness and HIIT classes using dumbbells or kettlebells ARE strength training, they’re not. At first you will see some results, and you will definitely get fitter aerobically, but there is a limit on muscle gain. When it comes to wanting to change the shape of your body and grow muscle, lose fat, this is just not your best option.

✅True strength training will utilize rest periods in between sets and reps. I know 😱REST, but strength training isn’t about burning calories or keeping your heart rate in any particular zone, it’s about building and strengthening your muscles. It’s the key to increasing your strength, improving your metabolism, and enhancing your overall health and fitness.

I will never forget the first real program I followed I asked my coach if I could do ab work between sets 😂 (she said no) Would it shock you if I told you that my leg day yesterday had 2-3 minute rest periods in between each set? I was doing heavy sets of 10 using weights near my failure range for that rep scheme and without that rest I never would have been able to keep adding weight let alone keep hitting 10 reps.

❗️This is not to say every single strength workout uses rest periods that long. Rest periods are just one thing that can change in each training block to change the stimulus of the workout. So you can keep progressing and avoid your body adapting (aka not responding anymore!) to the same 10 pound dumbbell and the same routine. In simple terms, think of rest periods as the time your muscles need to recover, recharge, and get ready for the next round of strength exercises. It’s like letting your muscles catch their breath so they can become stronger and more resilient. You will struggle to build muscle without them!