What Are AMRAP Workouts?
Strength training has many health benefits. Loading and unloading weight through repeated functional movements — pushing, pulling, squatting, etc. — can build muscle and coordination, explains Everyday Health. However, to properly train, the length of strength workouts can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to complete, including warming up and stretching. This can make committing to a consistent routine difficult.
Thankfully, AMRAP workouts can resolve that issue. They help keep the intensity of a workout while also minimizing the time to complete. AMRAP stands for "As Many Reps as Possible," which means completing as many repetitions of an exercise as possible within a set, nearly to failure, according to Masterclass. They can be done with bodyweight, dumbbell, or even cardio exercises. This may sound similar to HIIT, but AMRAP involves little to no rest within a circuit, whereas HIIT has built-in rest periods, explains EvoFitness. So why would you choose AMRAP over HIIT or any other high-intensity training?
AMRAP workouts can be tailored to any fitness goal
To put it simply, AMRAP workouts can be done with any exercise and in any amount of time. First, choose one or multiple exercises to do, making sure they fit with your fitness level. Next, choose the amount of time to complete the exercise(s). Ten minutes is perfect for beginners, although any time frame works. Finally, start completing the exercise(s). Once one exercise finishes, rest, then start the next set or exercise, according to Masterclass. Like HIIT, you don't have to go to the gym to get your fitness on.
The benefits of AMRAP include building your fitness and endurance, as well as helping to burn lots of calories, explains Vitality Magazine. It's also a good way to measure how much you have improved in your fitness journey. By completing more reps in the same time frame, you know that the workouts are working, according to Livestrong. However, if your goal is to build muscle or strength, this may not be the best routine. AMRAP is meant to improve your cardio, mental resilience, and overall fitness through lots of reps, not double the size of your biceps (via Livestrong).