How many times have you started to get out of bed the day after a workout and let out a moan? The thought of going to the rest room even sounds painful sometimes!
When this happens, you’ve probably wondered what was going on, why did your muscles burn. How many times have not worked out at your best level because you were a bit nervous that you would wake up sore?
That could be a big mistake! All trainers say different things, but I want to clarify a few things so you know the truth.
For me, I get a feeling of accomplishment when I am sore, but it’s also because I understand what’s going on with your body. If you’re simply trying to maintain the body you have now then no, being sore is not so important. However, if you are trying to better your body by getting more toned and burn more fat then yes, being sore is a great side affect of having a good strength training workout.
Why do you experience this muscle soreness for 24-48 hours post exercise? The pain is a result of damaging your muscle fibers during your workout. But don’t worry, its good damage. The damage occurs when the exercises you do create micro tears in the muscles.
When these tears repair themselves you become more toned, and increase your metabolism more. It’s just what has to happen if you want a better body. If you are analyzing your workouts and you don’t think they are working your hard enough then it’s time to look into something different.
Something different you can try are boot camp workouts, they are top of my list because workouts are always different so your body never has time to adjust and plateau. Or you can simply push harder in the weight room, lift heavier and for more reps! Other good options include looking into online training since personal trainers at the gym can get pretty expensive. But definitely stay away from the workouts that rely too much on machines.
Stick to the fundamentals: push-ups, squats, pull-ups, etc because they work several muscles at once and work better than the fancy equipment that is just that… fancy.
So the next time you complain about being sore at least give a little smile knowing you’re working towards your goals.
-- Download Why Would You Want To Be Sore After A Workout? as PDF --