Exercise Intensity

The Best and Worst Ways to Measure a Workout

Sore muscles, target heart rate, calorie burn, and more. Our expert sounds off on the legitimate and not-so-legitimate ways we assess a workout well done
By Emily G. W. Chau fitbie
 

How Many Reps You Completed

Before you pat yourself on the back for completing sets of 20 reps, remember: it’s quality, not quantity that counts. In fact, if you can complete 20 reps, you’re probably not working out hard enough. Because of fears that they’ll bulk up rather than tone, women are particularly guilty of shying away from lifting heavy. But to effectively overload the body for muscle strength and toning, you should have a difficult time completing your eighth to twelfth rep. Once that twelfth rep becomes easy, increase your weight by 5% to maximize your strength gains.

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