Do you avoid working out because you find it painful or uncomfortable? Maybe you’ve experienced post workout soreness and it created a negative association with exercise. If so, I want to encourage you to not let this discourage or prevent you from working out, and reassure you that there are ways to minimize post workout soreness.
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Are you in the other camp? Do you find post workout soreness to be a rewarding feeling, or a sign of a good workout? If muscle soreness is a motivating factor for you, I would encourage you to carefully track, monitor, and appropriately progress the intensity of your workouts so as to avoid risking injury (or leave you so sore that you can hardly move).
Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is muscle weakness, stiffness, fatigue, discomfort, and/or soreness that can occur for several days following physical activity. While DOMS is common, and it’s completely normal to have some soreness following a workout (especially when engaging in a new activity or during the initial phases of a workout program), it’s not a gauge of effectiveness.
There is no need to “chase” pain, and I definitely caution you in subscribing to the “No pain, No gain” mentality.
The best way to minimize DOMS is to follow a structured and conservative training plan that gradually increases workout intensity and volume. If you want to learn more about what causes DOMS, ways to minimize post workout soreness, and methods to aid in recovery check out my most recent blog article.
Love it or hate it, don't let post workout soreness prevent you from achieving your fitness goals.
Adventure awaits, be ready for it!
Kristen
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