A question for weight lifters

jacquejl

Hello! I have been working out for a month now lifting weights with a personal trainer, going 3 times per week. Each time I work out my quads burn. I thought I would've worked past that by now. No other muscles burn while working out. Is it normal for my legs to burn? Will it stop? Is there anything I can do to make it stop?

Thanks!!

jacksonpt

Yes, it's normal.

Stretching and foam rolling are both popular solution, but I recommend using the sore muscles. I always try to go for a run after leg day. It hurts, but using the muscles increases blood flow to the muscles, which helps them repair/recover faster.

jacquejl

Thanks!! I'm relieved to know it's normal. And I do love running.

No_Finish_Line

maybe the real question should be is everything else being worked adaquetly?

funforsports

Ummm, what exactly is your routine? You are either just working your quads or not working anything hard enough.

jacquejl

To No_Finish_Line......I believe so. I get a full body workout in each time. We try to exhaust my muscles so I lift until I can't do another rep. I found it odd that while working my set with any other muscles I don't feel a burning sensation, but when it comes to my quads, no matter what I do they burn during all my reps. Not even my hamstrings burn while working them, just the quads.

jacquejl

My routine is different every time. Some days it's just lunges and squats, today it was hamstring curls then leg extensions followed by jumping squats. I did the hams first...no burn, but as soon as I did the extensions I felt the burn. It's that way every time.

jacksonpt

maybe the real question should be is everything else being worked adaquetly?

I don't want to derail the thread too much, but what exactly does being sore (or not sore) indicate regarding quality/intensity of a workout? If anything?

jacquejl

I understand being sore a day or two after a workout and I don't mind that so much. I just don't understand why it burns during the exercise and why only the one muscle. It makes it much more difficult to push through the exercise. I must say, though, that what I am doing is working. I'm seeing physical results and everything else active that I'm doing is getting so much easier. I actually ran uphill quite a bit during our last hike. I couldn't do that before!

jacksonpt

I understand being sore a day or two after a workout and I don't mind that so much. I just don't understand why it burns during the exercise and why only the one muscle. It makes it much more difficult to push through the exercise. I must say, though, that what I am doing is working. I'm seeing physical results and everything else active that I'm doing is getting so much easier. I actually ran uphill quite a bit during our last hike. I couldn't do that before!

For what it's worth, it's the same with me doing BB lunges. it's the only lift I do that "hurts", and I'll be sore for 3-4 days after.

No_Finish_Line

maybe the real question should be is everything else being worked adaquetly?

I don't want to derail the thread too much, but what exactly does being sore (or not sore) indicate regarding quality/intensity of a workout? If anything?

thats a legitimate question that i dont know the answer too. but the OP says nothing about soreness only burning sensation during exercise.

I typically i don't get that burn unless i'm doing high rep. but i almost always get a pump.

To be honest with you, i just wanted to throw that out there as food for thought

trojanbb

quads get more lactic acid build up and pump than any other muscle group besides maybe calves. they should burn more while training

No_Finish_Line

I understand being sore a day or two after a workout and I don't mind that so much. I just don't understand why it burns during the exercise and why only the one muscle. It makes it much more difficult to push through the exercise. I must say, though, that what I am doing is working. I'm seeing physical results and everything else active that I'm doing is getting so much easier. I actually ran uphill quite a bit during our last hike. I couldn't do that before!

its possible your legs have a less adaqute cardiovascular infa-structure to remove the waste products of muscle contraction compared to other areas of your body.

idk just a thought

jacksonpt

maybe the real question should be is everything else being worked adaquetly?

I don't want to derail the thread too much, but what exactly does being sore (or not sore) indicate regarding quality/intensity of a workout? If anything?

thats a legitimate question that i dont know the answer too. but the OP says nothing about soreness only burning sensation during exercise.

I typically i don't get that burn unless i'm doing high rep. but i almost always get a pump.

To be honest with you, i just wanted to throw that out there as food for thought

Ah, ok... good clarification (burn during vs DOMS).

jacquejl

All good stuff to think about. Thank you!!

FitCurlysue

I'd also like to second the stretching and foam rolling. But I too only really feel a 'burn' in my quads when I work them and I love lifting and use adequate weight when I train. You might also consult with your trainer and see if they have a good reason or explanation.

No_Finish_Line

i think the bottom line is leg training is going to be taxing and uncomfortable on some level if done correctly lol

but i guess i'd say that should apply to everything

Dustin710

Without getting into all of the scientific intricacies, your glutes and quads are two of the largest muscle systems in your body. Using these muscles to failure during a weight lifting set, as you previously mentioned that you do, requires more energy than smaller muscles; say your delts or triceps.

The burn you feel is high level of lactate in muscles. This is a side effect of glycolysis, a metabolic process of delivering more “energy” to your muscles.

Theoretically, you should “feel the burn” everywhere, but since your legs, as a whole, is the largest muscle system, there is a higher concentration of lactate accumulating during leg exercises, especially when these are compound exercises.
The same holds true for why you feel DOMS in only your legs the next day or so. Leg muscles are large, meaning they have a larger inflammatory-repair response after a workout.

My advice, keep working hard and your leg endurance will build up, which should decrease how soon “the burn” sets in on your workout. DOMS should also eventually go away once your muscles become stronger. One final note, DOMS has no correlation at all with how “good” or “bad” a workout was.

jacquejl

I asked my trainer today if that was normal, he said he didn't know. I did ask during the exercise though, so perhaps I should've visited with him after the workout. I really do appreciate all the feedback! I'm going to work on stretching my quads and maybe invest in a massage :happy:

Thank you!

jacquejl

Without getting into all of the scientific intricacies, your glutes and quads are two of the largest muscle systems in your body. Using these muscles to failure during a weight lifting set, as you previously mentioned that you do, requires more energy than smaller muscles; say your delts or triceps.

The burn you feel is high level of lactate in muscles. This is a side effect of glycolysis, a metabolic process of delivering more “energy” to your muscles.

Theoretically, you should “feel the burn” everywhere, but since your legs, as a whole, is the largest muscle system, there is a higher concentration of lactate accumulating during leg exercises, especially when these are compound exercises.
The same holds true for why you feel DOMS in only your legs the next day or so. Leg muscles are large, meaning they have a larger inflammatory-repair response after a workout.

My advice, keep working hard and your leg endurance will build up, which should decrease how soon “the burn” sets in on your workout. DOMS should also eventually go away once your muscles become stronger. One final note, DOMS has no correlation at all with how “good” or “bad” a workout was.

Thank you!