[JourneytoMe]

So, I've looked around google and on here, but can't really find an answer. I'm sore from exercising, not excruciatingly, just plain ol' sore. So, I'm scared that if I let my body rest for a couple of days I won't go back to exercising. I'm on an exercise kick and want to keep it going. I want to exercise (crazy!). So am I ok to exercise or do I REALLY need to rest until the soreness is out of my muscles?? Thanks a bunch!!

FYI, I've been doing various Leslie Sansone videos as well as a strength training for dummies dvd night before last. I think that's where my soreness is really coming form.

[Heather]

Well, you CAN exercise everyday, but if you are weight training you shouldn't exercise the same muscles two days in a row. Basically, when you lift properly you create small tears in the muscle, and the muscles need time to heal.

But you can do cardio every day, or lift using different sets of muscles each day.

[fitkristi]

What Heather said!! I was wicked sore today from my interval training on Thursday, but I pushed through and did my cardio classes, and it actually made me less sore, because it got me stretched out.

[KellyMarie90]

I totally agree with the other two posters.
First off, a little soreness is a good thing because as heather said, muscles get little tears in them and the repair is how they become more toned. <-Thats why protein after a workout is important-to replenish the muscle and help repair the muscles. With that said, too much soreness is bad and you shouldnt workout an area if you feel you strained a muscle by working too hard. If you can hardly walk or lift your arms above your head because youre too sore than you overloaded your muscles too soon.
Working out when youre a little sore is fine, as the other posters said you shouldnt work the same muscles everyday during your lifting routine. As the others said, cardio is fine (and encouraged!) all or most days of the week.
Heres how my week in the gym looks like (stretching is a given)...I supplement with classes as well.
Monday-Cardio and a basic full body circuit
Tuesday-Intense interval Cardio Circuit
Wedneday-Cardio and 20% Abs and 80%Legs
Thursday-Cardio and 20%Abs and 80%Arms
Friday-Cardio and basic full body circuit
Saturday-Cardio and intense ab circuit
Sunday-Rest but usually a brisk walk or some ab work sneaks in lol

Everyone should develop their own schedule. I actually keep carious sets of exercises as notes on my ipod so I can refer back and vary which exercises I do during a particular week. As you can see, I'm a fan of ab workouts lol