Not tired after gym

maerieanne

Hi guys, just a question... last Feb I stopped going to the gym (I went for 1 year and I could lift a decent amount of weight) after that I got into MMA form Jul until 2 weeks ago that I went back to the gym.

Right now at the gym I'm doing 4x10 sets with a little less weight than I used to but I don't feel tired after it. I do all my sets with the max weight I can carry, sometimes to failure, but after my work out I don't feel tired at all, after 10-15min I stop excersicing I feel as good as new and I haven't had DOMs whatsoever.

Do you have any idea why? Do I need to change my routine or do something else?

Same thing happens when running, by the end I feel like dying and that I can't take it anymore but on the cooldown after a 5min walk I feel I can run for another 20min.

jafabuNZ

I can't answer your question as I'm not an expert but damn I wish I had your energy!

MyOwnSunshine

Lift heavier weights. Do more sets. Rest less between sets. Add some HIIT at the end until you're tired.

maerieanne

Thanks MyOwnSunshine but I am really trying my best. On all my sets I use the heaviest I can carry, sometimes I can't do the 10reps due to the weight (I fail at 6-8). But I'm going to try with some HIIT afterwards.

I also might lower the weight and do more reps 15ish maybe to see how it works.

jonnythan

That's pretty normal. I wouldn't worry about it. Don't try to add cardio or HIIT afterwards just to feel more tired.

Focus on increasing your weights from workout to workout.

JustAnotherGirlSuzanne

Sometimes when I'm tired and don't have the time for a decent nap I'll just punch in a short workout DVD instead. It does wonders for energy levels.

Pretty sure that's normal?

erickirb

Sounds like you are more fit, DOMS isn't a sign of a good workout

DeeDoy

Could be you are just fitter now. I often feel the same way you do and have done a second workout later the same day but then the next day been worn out and over tired etc. Think it could also be from the buzz exercise gives, where you feel invincible (I get that with running sometimes.)

Anyhow, sounds pretty normal to me and if you know you are doing your best at the gym then no need to feel bad

sillyshamrock11

Probably just in better shape than you thought you were...that's good! I can relate. I'll go and do a 60 minute spin class and then go run two miles after and feel fine...awesome actually lol.


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JoRocka

I'm not always "tired" after my workouts. But I know I worked hard.

You're body has good days and bad days- as long as you are working hard- just roll with it.

stumblinthrulife

A workout doesn't have to wear you out to do you benefit.

That's just a concept that presumably developed from personal trainers wanting to make you feel like you got your money's worth by giving immediate physical feedback. People are bad at noticing change over time, but will assume that if their trainer leaves them at death's door, they got a 'good workout'.

jacksonpt

That's pretty normal. I wouldn't worry about it. Don't try to add cardio or HIIT afterwards just to feel more tired.

Focus on increasing your weights from workout to workout.

agreed

Sounds like you are more fit, DOMS isn't a sign of a good workout

also agreed

Pinkranger626

How long have you been doing this routine? If it's been a couple weeks.... or months..... or you've only ever done this one routine it's time to change it up. The body only works as hard as it absolutely has to and once you get use to doing certain muscles you'll become more efficient and burn less calories doing the same thing. Switch up the moves, switch up the order in your staple moves (squats lunges etc) and/or switc up how you do them. If you're giving yourself 30 seconds of rest between sets and your doing 4 sets and then moving on to the next exercise try a circuit style workout where you run through all the exercises with one set, then repeat the whole list again 3-4 more times. Try repeater sets, choose two moves (either the same muscle group or opposing muscle groups. i.e. squats and deadlifts or tricep dips and kickbacks.) do one set of the first exercise, move to the next exercise and complete first set. Then complete a second set of the first exercise then the second exercise.

jonnythan

How long have you been doing this routine? If it's been a couple weeks.... or months..... or you've only ever done this one routine it's time to change it up. The body only works as hard as it absolutely has to and once you get use to doing certain muscles you'll become more efficient and burn less calories doing the same thing. Switch up the moves, switch up the order in your staple moves (squats lunges etc) and/or switc up how you do them. If you're giving yourself 30 seconds of rest between sets and your doing 4 sets and then moving on to the next exercise try a circuit style workout where you run through all the exercises with one set, then repeat the whole list again 3-4 more times. Try repeater sets, choose two moves (either the same muscle group or opposing muscle groups. i.e. squats and deadlifts or tricep dips and kickbacks.) do one set of the first exercise, move to the next exercise and complete first set. Then complete a second set of the first exercise then the second exercise.

I never understood this mentality. My entire reason for doing exercises is to get better at them. If I'm getting good...... why would I want to stop doing it?

I guess that's the difference between training and working out.

nebjennison

work harder and for longer

Pinkranger626

You want to change it up because one, you burn less calories and you begin to maintain your fitness level. It's not that you stop doing the exercises it's that you continue to challenge your body so that you can get better and more fit. Plus doing the same routine day in and day out, IMO is super boring. I love to keep challenging my body to try harder, move better, feel better.

explosivedonut

Being tired is not a good indicator of working hard in the gym. Especially when it comes to lifting weights. If you are lifting heavy weights, and you are tired, your last few reps are going to be sloppy, which means more prone to injury. So long as your workout is giving you the results you want, don't worry about things like how tired you are after. There are days when I am pouring sweat when I am lifting, and days when I don't break a sweat.

Don't worry about it at all.

jonnythan

You want to change it up because one, you burn less calories and you begin to maintain your fitness level. It's not that you stop doing the exercises it's that you continue to challenge your body so that you can get better and more fit. Plus doing the same routine day in and day out, IMO is super boring. I love to keep challenging my body to try harder, move better, feel better.

That's only true if you're doing the exact same exercise. The goal is progression. If all you do is run, you should be running faster or for longer periods of time. If you're lifting, you should be gradually increasing the weight. If you're doing HIIT, your high intensity periods should have you going faster. Etc.

The same routine is super boring if you're just "working out" with no goal in mind. If you're training for a goal, then it gets a lot more interesting. Just bench pressing is boring - but I want to bench 175 by the end of the year. I have a progression plan to accomplish that, so each bench press session takes on a much greater import and intensity lest I fall behind the map and not reach my goal. Just running is boring, but if you have a goal of "26 minute 5k" then each running session is training to that goal and it becomes a lot more interesting.

Just hitting the gym and "working out" for a while is relatively pointless and therefore boring.

JTick

I'm never tired after lifting, I usually don't even break a sweat. After running though, I usually just want to lie down and take a nap. I don't think being tired is any indication of the quality of your workout.

Mr_Knight

Right now at the gym I'm doing 4x10 sets with a little less weight than I used to but I don't feel tired after it. I do all my sets with the max weight I can carry, sometimes to failure, but after my work out I don't feel tired at all, after 10-15min I stop excersicing I feel as good as new and I haven't had DOMs whatsoever.

I don't know that there's anything to worry about. After my SS workouts, I feel a bit "stressed" (damned squats) for about 10-15 minutes, but not fatigued. In fact, afterwards I hit the pool for about a mile's worth of laps. *Then* I feel tired.

As long as I keep progressing with the lifts (higher weights), it's not something I plan on being concerned about.

Stage14

I never feel physically exhausted right after lifting weights, even when I up my weight and am sore the next morning. It took awhile to get used to that because I felt like I should be as tired as I was after a good long cardio session, but the truth is that now, that is one of my favorite things about lifting. It fits into my life much easier because I don't have to wait for a time when I can go home and crash afterwards to do it. I can squeeze it on dinner breaks between work and shows, do it in the mornings on the weekends and then go on to have an active day, etc. I wouldn't worry about it. If you're lifting heavy enough that you struggle with the last few reps, you're lifting the right amount of weight.

willdob3

You should change your workout regularly. some do every 4-6 weeks, some every 3 months.

You need to work to increase your weight all the time. It defeats the purpose to stay at the same weight. You should end your sets feeling like you could not lift one more rep.

As much as we like to feel it DOMS is not a sign of a good workout.

You really don't need to feel exhausted & in need of a nap or anything after working out.

Stage14

I love all the people telling her to change her routine when she's only been doing it for 2 weeks.

firstsip

Nothing to be concerned about. Endorphins and adrenaline certainly play a role. If you're not lifting your weights as high, is it because you're working on form? You might be able to increase weight a bit more than you think.

Otherwise, I very rarely feel tired after workouts. I just backpacked 21+ miles this past weekend, and only stopped at night because it got dark and to make sure my body could repair. My body never actually felt "tired."

My tiredness is almost always relative to my sleep schedule or my calories. I'm guessing you must have a good handle on these two things + working out. So... good job!

willdob3

I love all the people telling her to change her routine when she's only been doing it for 2 weeks.

There is no point in doing an ineffective workout for even one week.

jacksonpt

Nothing to be concerned about. Endorphins and adrenaline certainly play a role. If you're not lifting your weights as high, is it because you're working on form? You might be able to increase weight a bit more than you think.

Otherwise, I very rarely feel tired after workouts. I just backpacked 21+ miles this past weekend, and only stopped at night because it got dark and to make sure my body could repair. My body never actually felt "tired."

My tiredness is almost always relative to my sleep schedule or my calories. I'm guessing you must have a good handle on these two things + working out. So... good job!

Agreed... My experiences are very similar.

jacksonpt

I love all the people telling her to change her routine when she's only been doing it for 2 weeks.

There is no point in doing an ineffective workout for even one week.

Who said anything was ineffective?

JoRocka

You should change your workout regularly. some do every 4-6 weeks, some every 3 months.

You need to work to increase your weight all the time. It defeats the purpose to stay at the same weight. You should end your sets feeling like you could not lift one more rep.

As much as we like to feel it DOMS is not a sign of a good workout.

You really don't need to feel exhausted & in need of a nap or anything after working out.

I'd really REALLY like to see you tell some of the body builders that.

No really. I'd love to be there for that.

willdob3

You should change your workout regularly. some do every 4-6 weeks, some every 3 months.

You need to work to increase your weight all the time. It defeats the purpose to stay at the same weight. You should end your sets feeling like you could not lift one more rep.

As much as we like to feel it DOMS is not a sign of a good workout.

You really don't need to feel exhausted & in need of a nap or anything after working out.

I'd really REALLY like to see you tell some of the body builders that.

No really. I'd love to be there for that.

lol... I've been one. Trust me, it is sad but true. But also reassuring, in an admittedly annoying way, when you lift your heaviest ever and don't even get a tiny bit sore.

juniperfox

>>Same thing happens when running, by the end I feel like dying and that I can't take it anymore but on the cooldown after a 5min walk I feel I can run for another 20min. <<

This happens to me too. I think it's just a normal reaction from your body, either chemically or physically.

JoRocka

You should change your workout regularly. some do every 4-6 weeks, some every 3 months.

You need to work to increase your weight all the time. It defeats the purpose to stay at the same weight. You should end your sets feeling like you could not lift one more rep.

As much as we like to feel it DOMS is not a sign of a good workout.

You really don't need to feel exhausted & in need of a nap or anything after working out.

I'd really REALLY like to see you tell some of the body builders that.

No really. I'd love to be there for that.

lol... I've been one. Trust me, it is sad but true. But also reassuring, in an admittedly annoying way, when you lift your heaviest ever and don't even get a tiny bit sore.

I agree with you on the DOMS part- no question- I'm constantly telling people it's not a good indicator of a workout. It's annoying when people complain about it... I do like a little bit of stiffness- reminds me I'm working something new- but yeah- I rarely get sore any more- mostly crunchy rather than sore LOL. I don't miss the days when I couldn't walk off the bus after CC camp!

But the changing of a routine- most routines are quiet simple- you may alter them- but the base stays very much the same. Maybe do something different for a month- then you go back to the same ole thing- squats- dead lifts- OHP and Bench. That's what I was getting at more so.