Why don't I ever "feel the burn"?

[sandt38]

So I work out hard, I hit each muscle group twice a week. I do 1 set of warm ups, 3 sets of modest weight (12-15 reps until I feel like it is working, about 80% of my failure weight) and 2 sets to total failure (3-6 reps).

But when I reach failure it is just like I can't lift any more, no pain, no burn. I can change up exercises every other month, and I feel a burn the first time i do it, maybe the second time, but I rarely feel much of a burn at all, and like I say, it is only maybe once or twice.

Why is this?

I see gains, and I can tell my workout is doing something, but I feel like I may be missing something.

[StrangeReality]

I may be wrong but I only get that burning sensation in my muscles when I do high reps (15+). I would think that low reps don't allow for a sufficient build up of lactic acid in the muscle which I believe causes the "burn".

May be someone else could shed some light on the subject.

[peteskeys]

If you are seeing gains, who the **** cares if you're not "feeling the burn"? That's just a bogus indicator the fitness industry has idealized to fool people into thinking that they're getting something done.

If you're failing at 3-6 reps, it's not surprise you aren't feeling pumped/burned. Shoot for shorter rest times and higher rep sets to failure, though like I said, you aren't missing anything.

[H1t_V3r4c]

lower rest periods, slow controlled reps, high amount of reps.

[caerus13]

You don't build up too much lactic acid (the burn) at lower rep ranges (~5).

[james0566]

but I feel like I may be missing something.

you're not

[zephed56]

[jhonkame]

are you using good form?

[Koaia]

Not feeling the burn is not a problem. There isn't any benefit to it, and as it was explained earlier, it is not a proper indication of progress. Depending on your goal, approximations toward that goal should be your indicators. For example, if your goal is to get stronger, then lifting more weight is a good indicator.

[IronRooster2]

If you want to look like Jane Fonda, that's fine by me.

[sandt38]

are you using good form?

Yes. I understand the importance of good form, and I lift at home to ensure i don't overdo it to impress whoever may be nearby... let's admit it, we all have done it.

Not feeling the burn is not a problem. There isn't any benefit to it, and as it was explained earlier, it is not a proper indication of progress. Depending on your goal, approximations toward that goal should be your indicators. For example, if your goal is to get stronger, then lifting more weight is a good indicator.

Good to hear. I was just about to ask if there was any real benefit from stepping up my reps. I don't mind changing things up if there will be a quicker result, but I have been lifting like this on and off for years, and we all know how difficult it is to change our habits.

[usfbullsfan100]

Yes. I understand the importance of good form, and I lift at home to ensure i don't overdo it to impress whoever may be nearby... let's admit it, we all have done it.



Good to hear. I was just about to ask if there was any real benefit from stepping up my reps. I don't mind changing things up if there will be a quicker result, but I have been lifting like this on and off for years, and we all know how difficult it is to change our habits.

yea dude if you are seeing gain then gives a **** haha "the burn" it doesnt mean anythingggg lol but i always thought high reps were when you can feel the burn and also when you switch it up the muscles arent use to that workouts thats why u can probably feel the burn then too

[morbidxangel]

i felt the burn yesterday man
i felt like a ****in animal toward the end of my workout !!!

working out is way funner than weed
felt way better after my workout than getting high
plus its good for u

[Engineer_Guy]

I see gains, and I can tell my workout is doing something

So what's the problem then?

[abdii]

I can change up exercises every other month, and I feel a burn the first time i do it, maybe the second time,

Change exercises every week

[rlseafor]

idk if i would actually ever want to feel the burn. the burn just means lactic acid is building up which is essentially burning the muscle fibers... no thanks.

[Engineer_Guy]

Change exercises every week

I would not listen to this advice...

[proteinman9]

its ok

[jay8899]

So I work out hard, I hit each muscle group twice a week. I do 1 set of warm ups, 3 sets of modest weight (12-15 reps until I feel like it is working, about 80% of my failure weight) and 2 sets to total failure (3-6 reps).

But when I reach failure it is just like I can't lift any more, no pain, no burn. I can change up exercises every other month, and I feel a burn the first time i do it, maybe the second time, but I rarely feel much of a burn at all, and like I say, it is only maybe once or twice.

Why is this?

I see gains, and I can tell my workout is doing something, but I feel like I may be missing something.

cause your form is wrong ,or your just not concentrating on the poitive and negatives of the exercise

[ILurkAtWork]

^ Um, no, not necessarily, unless you have video of OP you have no idea about his form. You likely won't have "the burn" after hitting a triple. You're working in a rep range that leads to strength gains moreso than maximum hypertrophy, but obviously you'll be taking both along for the ride. Don't worry about it, OP, as long as you keep seeing gains.

[sandt38]

Change exercises every week

I would not listen to this advice...

No, I know. Sometimes i think I should go longer between changeups, but this is an old habit.

cause your form is wrong ,or your just not concentrating on the poitive and negatives of the exercise

Wrong. I concentrate on form, pos, and negs of the exercise. I choose to lift at home so as to eliminate the show off attitude that we all tend to get when a babe is nearby.