A client came to me the other day wanting me to increase the intensity of her workouts. The summer is coming up and she really wants to dial in her workouts before beach season.

The question is, what is intensity and how do we “up “it?

For trainers, intensity generally refers to the amount of weight on the bar. To the fitness enthusiast, intensity probably means “leave me in a bloody, vomiting, incoherent state of humanity”. I have never heard this client refer to the weight on the bar as intensity, so Ill assume she meant the latter.

I have no interest in running people into the ground, there are far greater ways for me to up my reputation as a fitness professional, but I like to give my clients what they want.

A simple way to improve the intensity of a workout is to push yourself harder on every set. Don’t stop on the eighth rep if you can perform 12 reps. If you can add 5 pounds to the bar and complete your set with good technique, do it! This will increase the intensity of your workout while also helping you tap into those reps that will actually make a difference in your results.

You do not need some angry, clipboard-warrior screaming at you to complete some absurd workout designed to make you tired.

You can also take less rest time between sets. I like to give my clients 2-3 minutes between sets of heavy lifts and about 1-1:30 between everything else.

If you have time to whip out your phone and take a few selfies, you are taking way too much time in between sets!

If you want your next workout to feel a little more intense, try pushing every set just a little further and give yourself a little less time between sets. Let me know how intense it feels!