# Rest between sets

**URL:** <https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/rest-between-sets/11420>\
**Category:** Training Q&A \[Moderated\]\
**Created:** [September 24, 2021, 9:32pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/rest-between-sets/11420 "2021-09-24T21:32:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jorgesflyingknee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Jorgesflyingknee](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jorgesflyingknee)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 9:32pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/rest-between-sets/11420/1 "2021-09-24T21:32:38Z")

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If you were to do 3x5 with RPE 9 across sets would you still recommend a 5min rest between sets? Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2021, 3:12pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/rest-between-sets/11420/2 "2021-09-25T15:12:41Z")

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Yes. You could also rest less and still do 3x5 @ 9, but you’d likely take weight off the bar due to fatigue. I wouldn’t extend rest periods past 5 minutes though.

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**Author:** ![quark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5e9695/32.png) [@quark](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/quark)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 5:06pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/rest-between-sets/11420/3 "2021-09-29T17:06:41Z")

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I generally rest for shorter that 5 minute periods between sets, in part based on the theory that shorter rest periods cause a favorable adaptation - getting more efficient at recovery.

I’ve usually rest about 2 minutes between upper body sets and 3 minutes between lower body sets, the difference because upper body work is less fatiguing.

Does this make sense?