Question about muscle fatigue

[leanmom]

After my first upper body workout my muscles were so fatigued that i couldn't even push myself up off the floor i didn't mind, i took it as a good sign that i had worked hard.

Today, they are fatigued but not nearly as bad. My DH thinks that means i didn't work hard enough, i thought it was because i'm getting stronger. Which is it?

I really felt like i worked harder today than last time. I did things wrong last time and on my final 2 sets didn't have a hard time completing them at all. After reading several threads on this board (thanks!) i made sure that i could barely complete my final 2 sets, people actually stared because i had to grunt and groan to finish my last rep!

I don't know why i always doubt myself after i finish!

Also, any suggestions for back exercises? I'm having a hard time with those, feels like they don't do anything for my back, i'm working hard on my form to make sure i'm doing them right...but still nothing.

Thanks again!

[Chris]

First, that's totally normal. Some days you will feel totally dead afterward, most days you won't. It doesn't mean you didn't work hard enough. As long as you're hitting your 10s that's good enough.

For back, I'm a big fan of bent over rows. Lat pulldowns and pull overs are also good choices. Check out ExRx (Exercise Prescription) on the Net for a good encyclopedia of exercises. The important thing is to really squeeze those shoulders blades together when the muscles contract. Pause in that position before releasing the tension. focus on training your back rather than your biceps. You can feel it in your biceps, but if you feel like it's a bicep workout, the focus is in the wrong place.

[bluexj]

If you hit your 10 in the weight room then that is sufficient. If your are training to failure or even near failure there is not much more that you can do.

The important thing is training with intensity. If you are making strenght and size gains I wouldn't worry too much about how sore your are.

I rarely get sore from back exercises and rarely feel the burn from them so I know where you are coming from. I do however see the results so I know they are working. Keep doing them with proper form and measure your progress in strength gains. Back muscles can be difficult to see progress on.

[yakubu]

Originally Posted by leanmom

After my first upper body workout my muscles were so fatigued that i couldn't even push myself up off the floor i didn't mind, i took it as a good sign that i had worked hard.

Today, they are fatigued but not nearly as bad. My DH thinks that means i didn't work hard enough, i thought it was because i'm getting stronger. Which is it?

I really felt like i worked harder today than last time. I did things wrong last time and on my final 2 sets didn't have a hard time completing them at all. After reading several threads on this board (thanks!) i made sure that i could barely complete my final 2 sets, people actually stared because i had to grunt and groan to finish my last rep!

I don't know why i always doubt myself after i finish!

Also, any suggestions for back exercises? I'm having a hard time with those, feels like they don't do anything for my back, i'm working hard on my form to make sure i'm doing them right...but still nothing.

Thanks again!

bent over barbel row
dumbel row
pullups
lat pulldowns
close grip lat pulldowns

are the best back exercises

[JoelMarion]

Originally Posted by yakubu

bent over barbel row
dumbel row
pullups
lat pulldowns
close grip lat pulldowns

are the best back exercises

Soreness is actually a very poor indicator of progress. I could hit you with a hammer repeatedly and you'd be really sore, but you wouldn't grow much from it.

As you continue to train, you will become less and less sore...which is a good thing for performance (and operating at the highest level is what brings results).

Take care,

[sshultz]

I personally like T-bar rows. Those were the first thing I really felt the next day. I felt like I was able to focus more on my upper back.