How many sets and reps should you do?

We all know that we should listen to our body.  But when should we believe what our body tells us?  How should we interpret what our body tells us?  While working out, we should listen,  but not always do what our body tells us.  Think less like your body's buddy, and more like your body's Drill Sargeant!

At basic training, the Drill Sargeant keeps the recruits off balance--constantly changing, never becoming complacent or lazy with the same old thing.  Working out should be similiar--keep your msucles off balance.  When your muscles become accostomed to regularly lifting a familiar weight in a familiar way, they stop growing--they have adapted. A weight-conditioning program that never changes can create muscle-strength imablance that not only is counter-productive, but can be dangerous as it can make one more prone to injuries. 

Now, this does not mean that you need to start doing some crazy, inclined, behind-the-back tricep windmills; just mix things up a little bit. You can keep doing your regular exercise, but every so often, change HOW you do them.  You can change the order you do them in, or the number of reps/sets, and the weight.  Maybe change the exercise you do for a similar exercise that works the same muscles.  Maybe do the same exercise but from a different position--perhaps kneeling instead of standing, or sitting on an exercise ball instead of a bench.

Check out Men's Health  ultimate guide to sets and reps to help  get you started. Whether you're trying to torch fat, boost strength, or chisel a fitter physique, you'll enjoy the surprised—and supersized—reaction you get from your muscles.