People have different reasons for lifting weights. Some want to be healthier. Others want to look fitter. And some people just want to be as freakin' strong as they possibly can. These goals can be attained individually or all together; it's up to your application of weight training principles -- one if which is how long you rest in between sets.

For those people who seek Herculean strength, and for those who may just be curious about how to go about doing so, it appears as that the greatest strength gains are to be had when three-minute rest periods are taken between sets.

According to the Journal of Strength Conditioning Research, a study determined that of one-minute, two-minute, and three-minute rest periods, allowing your body to recover for the more ample amount of time will enable you to lift more during your next set. And, over time, this higher volume training will result in stronger lifts.

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