I did 5 *different* sets of 10 yesterday (6 lbs) and my arms were shaking at the end - why am I not feeling the burn today ? Not even a little soreness ... not even a little.

By "different" sets I mean I did 10 curls then I did 10 lateral raises then I did 10 tricept extensions .. etc - I'm thinking I didn't work each muscle enough and maybe should have done 2 or 3 sets of the same 'excercise' before switching to another ?

Don't worry - whether or not your muscles are sore the next day doesn't have anything to do with whether you worked out hard enough. If you worked to muscle fatigue - which it sounds like you did with the shaking arms - then you did just fine.

THANKS !! You truly do rock !!

So it doesn't matter if I do multiple sets of the same excersize or lift the weight 50 times with different excersizes ? Should my "goal" for this month be to work up to 2 - 3 sets of 10 of each excersize ?

"The burn" is usually gone with a few minutes of rest. Like Meg said DOMS is not a reliable indicator of growth.

How about "the Pump"? Getting a good pump is probably more important than "feeling the burn" or experiencing DOMS. I don't know if it is giving me any size gains yet, but i have been getting an enormous pump from doing drop sets of cable curls and tricep pushdowns.

Best of all, for the less than advanced lifter, is adding weight to the bar. Strength gains+ proper diet tend to produce size gains for a long time, although they eventually tail off.

I'm so glad you asked that question, Mrs. Smarty Pants! I've been lifting in earnest for the past couple of weeks and, aside from a teeny bit of soreness in the first day or two, haven't had any overwhelming "Arrrrrrrrrrgh!!!!" My muscles, esp. the quads, just have a little "Hello, I'm here" message for me. I was expecting them to scream at me (but relieved that they haven't! ).

I was worried about saying anything for fear that I'd be told my workouts had been useless and a waste of time and that I may as well not even bother.

Thanks, Meg, for clearing that up!

Thanks Robert (and thanks for your reply to my other thread - my husband is going to attempt that weightlifting program along with my cousin)

I did increase weight from last week from 4 - 6lbs .. but I'm wondering if 6 lbs/arm is still not enough for me ..

I say I'm physically "weak" .. but I have a handicapped son who I have to carry (he's only 2.5 years old .. so around 30lbs) and I wonder if I've slowly built up strength and need more weight .. On the other hand .. I couldn't lift the 30lb box my dumbbells came in without using momentum and "leaning" to offset the weight.

If I'm reading you right, you're describing two different and equally valid ways to train. One way is the traditional, one-exercise-at-a-time way: multiple sets of the same exercise done in a row with a rest between each set. The other way is what it sounds like you did yesterday, which is circuit training: one set of an exercise followed immediately by a set of another exercise for another body part, etc with no rest between the sets.

Neither way is 'better' than the other. Circuit training is faster and burns more calories due to less rest time, so many trainers use it for clients looking to lose weight. People whose goal is more traditional strength gains tend to train with multiple sets of the same exercise. You can do sets one workout and circuits the next, if you'd like, or stick with one scheme or the other. Pick what YOU like and don't be afraid to change it up!

Edited to add: the only way that you'll know how much weight to use is to experiment. If you pick a weight and can do 15 reps and keep going, it's too light. So you'd go up next time. If you pick a weight and can only squeeze out 6 reps, it's too heavy and you'd go down in weight the next time. It's helpful to keep track in a little notebook at first until you figure out where you are, weight-wise.

LOL - I am soo dense sometimes .. after reading your response (Meg) I realized that while I was working my arms - I was working different muscles in my arms - so yes that WOULD BE circuit training .. (I pictured circuit training as doing arms then legs then back then arms then abs then legs - not doing different muscles in the same body "part")

THANKS AGAIN !! Looks like circuit training is "right" for me

Awww, don't ever be afraid to ask a question! I promise that no one here will ever tell you that you've been wasting your time!

Lena - I think no matter WHAT you've been doing - even if it 'seemed' in vain will be beneficial - I rarely feel a "burn" from walking .. yet I *KNOW* I got something out of it

ANY type of exercise is never done in vain... As long as you're moving you're exercising, with time you just love to move MORE, which is a great thing