Exercise! - resting after weight training

Hi there!
I've had this question in my head for the longest time, so I figured I'd post it. :)

I understand you're supposed to wait 48 hours after lifting weights for your muscles to recover, rebuild, etc. What if after 48 hours you're still really, really sore? Not injured, just lactic acid type soreness. I like to do a full body weights routine (Jari Love dvd) every other day , but I wonder if it's really better to do it every third day. It seems like if the muscles are still really sore, they might need more time to recover. Any thoughts??

Thanks!

Theresa

I'm not a doctor or an expert by any means, but my completely unqualified opinion is that it's fine to work out when your muscles are sore, so long as you aren't actually injured. My personal trainer doesn't think this is a problem and when I do experience occasional soreness, the additional workouts don't seem to interfere with my recovery. The soreness should go away after a few days (maybe a week at the most, if you haven't worked out in a really long time), however, even if you are continuing to work out. If it isn't going away, you might be overtraining or you might have injured something.

I would make sure you are getting enough protein in your diet. Along with giving your muscles time to recover and repair, you need to feed them what they need to regenerate. I only wait one day between strength training sessions. I do it on M-W-F for 1/2 hour a day. 90 mins total a week. Are you training for too long I wonder? Anyway, your muscles will adjust as you get more and more defined. Just make sure you are challenging yourself and not just doing the same thing week after week. As you find it easier and easier, you need to kick it up a notch!

Best of luck. I love strength training!!!! It's my savings account in the fitness bank! :)

Thanks ladies!
I know I get enough protein, usually 20 - 25% of my calories. I do this Jari Love video, but I'm only doing the upper body segments because I injured my leg. With all the stretching it's about 45 minutes and I try to do it 3 times a week (with 48 hour breaks).

Good to know that your trainer says it's ok to lift when you're still sore! I'm going to keep going with it then. :)

Thanks again!