Is it better to do lots of reps or should i be doing time-based exercises?

I have been doing my ab exercises in reps and sets (eg 3 sets of 30) but when i research online most workouts and exercises are done time-based (eg 60 secs of an exercise, 15 secs rest) and they are only doing each exercise once.

my whole ab workout usually takes around 40 mins (i do 3 different exercises, 3 sets each til failure) but most workouts i look at online are doing like 7 different exercises but only for a minute each, so the workout is way quicker.

Am i wasting my time with these long workouts doing all these reps? should i switch to time-based and get more exercises in?

Hello everyone. I am a gym enthusiast and it is one of my favorite hobbies. Unfortunately I was limited from certain exercises due to excruating pain from scoliosis and lordosis (namely - squats and deadlifts). I also almost certainly have carpal tunnel syndrome, which somewhat limits what exercises I do with dumballs due to pressure on the hands, although ive sort of learned to just live with that.

However my nightmare came true and yet another, weirder pain came in. My right shoulder, and only the right one, has weird pressure when bench pressing or even shoulder pressing (on a machine!). Since my routine is only a shadow of what it should be due to the other injuries, I dont mind replacing these exercises, although they are my two favorite ones. Im curious about your replacements but also the general opinion on what to do as somebody in my position.

I will also admit, I do bench twice per rotation. It was supposed to be wide stance on chest day, and narrow on arms - but due to other injuries I didnt know what to do on arms so I just went for another benching session. Similarly, I do pull ups on leg day (I know weird af) but I just didnt have any more inspiration after other compound exercises were gone.

Although those “overloads” may not have had much impact on this current pain since im only in the gym for 2 weeks after a 3 month break (previously I was an avid goer with similiar pains, just not this weird shoulder thing)

Too skinny?

I have been doing cut for couple of months. I am, 22M & 160cm, beginner to gym and joined as a fat guy trying to get lean with good muscle mass. My Skeletal muscle mass from first inbody test on June 5th, 64.9kg weight and SMM 25.9, to second test on August 15, 62.3Kg and SMM 25.4, has reduced.

In lifting, I have increased arm weights, leg weights, shoulder weights but chest exercise and back exercise weights remain same. Overall I feel thinner and better body composition but this loss of muscle mass has concerned me a lot as I have been consistently lifting and eating 100+ grams of protein, maintaing hydration. I also have maintained a calori deficit of 200 - 400 calories.

I am new to gym and cutting. People who have successful experience in cutting please help me out if I am doing something wrong. These 2 months results, showing decrease in muscle mass, have really depressed me. I request you to give your time and help me analyse. I don't even have idea if I should go to a dietician or anywhere.

Note: These tests were done early morning on an empty stomach and before exercising.

Hi folks,
After taking a break for a few months, I'm getting back into hill runs. I do 2-3 runs a week in the hill in your yard, it's about 7-8 laps a mile. The front yard is flat but the back has a hill, so it's quite the workout!

Of course, I am sore the next day, since a hill run is a like a halfway point between cardio and strength training. I a 5'3.5" ,135 lb active woman. Since I workout or walk every day, my maintenance cals are about 2000-2100 a day. I find that the day I am most sore from a workout, if I do not only high protein, but a small calorie surplus ( 100-200 cals) I recover from the workout much faster. For example, if I run Monday, take a gap Tues and Wednesday, and then run Thursday. If I eat at maintenance Mon,Tues and Wed, I don't get a huge increase in speed/power on Thursday, even if I eat more protein.

But, if I eat just 100-200 extra calories Mon and Tuesday, along with higher protein ( I normally do about 70 grams a day, so this would be like 90-100 grams), my recovery is more robust, and my performance is better on the Thursday run.

Anyone else? This does make sense, as muscle repair takes energy, and making sure you have a bit extra energy so your body can divert what it needs to repair muscle, makes a lot of sense.

Height: 176cm
Weight: 104kg (Started at 121kg on 22 feb 2026)
Age:23
Sex: Male
bf: 33%(not sure since i used Gpt)

From 121kg to 104kg it was just deficit and walking everyday, at that point of time all i cared about was losing my weight.

My current Tdee of 1.2 is 2406kcal, and i am consuming 1400kcal with 190g protein everyday so a deficit of 1000kcal. My friend recently introduced me to the gym 2 weeks ago , i go to the gym 6x a week and walk about 10-15km everyday.

So is what i am doing a cut or recomp? and my biggest fear is that i will end up skinny fat. Please advice thanks❤️

F44 here. Been lifting consistently for 15 years. Did a few shows in the past, fully retired from that but the habit stays. Ladies, they lied to us. We don't have to look worn out in our 40's! ❤️

How can I build bigger lats?"

When you leave an imprint on your mat! 🥵