I know it's normal to get muscle soreness when you start exercising, and anytime you start a different routine. Does it get better and ease up eventually as someone gets in better shape? I know some people like being sore, but after you workout awhile is the soreness not as stiff?


I'm doing weights, cardio and some stretching...maybe not as much stretching as I should because I'm not that flexible. but I guess it's the weights that are causing most of the soreness?

When you first start, the soreness is at its worst. It does get better and you may not barely notice it on some days.

Stretching helps a LOT. Drinking plenty of water helps too.

I sure hope it does! I have been sore for days! But I keep sticking with it, and continuing the exercise because I'm hoping it will get better soon once I get back in shape.

Make sure you stretch before AND after you work out. But when you stretch afterwards, your muscles will be warmer and you'll be able to stretch farther, so don't over do it or you might injure yourself. But stretching is very important. It, along with water, will help combat the soreness, as well as help prevent charley horses.

yep it does get better, but given time you learn to love it because its a sign that you worked out good today Like every one said, make sure you stretch stretch stretch

The first couple of weeks were where I has some serious soreness. I remember it was the worst two days after the workout. If I was particularly sore I found it really helped to do a lower intensity workout, but for a bit longer. One thing that always made me feel better, but still counted as exercise was to hit the pool for some laps - I stuck to the slow lane - the light activity really helped to dissipate the worst of the aches without genertaing new ones and kept me in an exercise routine.

After a month you should find your muscles will have really grown and you'll not be so sore. You'll still have some soreness because you are always going to be pushing yourself in one area or another - you'll try to run/walk/swim longer of faster, or lift more weights or do more reps. As strange as it may sound, you may begin to love the slight ache you get after a good workout!

I've been actively working out for almost two years now (light weights, elliptical and dance class) and I *love* the slight ace I get after a good workout. Right now my hips are telling me they really had a good workout last night in dance class, but it is such a good feeling - kind of like my hips are more powerful or something. Rather than feeling like I want to rest them, I feel like I want to work them more!

BP

I'm going into my second month of working out and I'm still getting sore though... I'm not sure if my muscle have grown yet, it might be subtle changes that I don't notice.


With weights I'm using 5-15s and I feel like that's a challenge for my arms and upper body, but I know people lift alot heavier...

cardio, 2 miles of walking 2-4MPH on the treadmill feels like a workout, my HR monitor says I burn 350. in 2 miles.. it's a decent HR monitor that wraps around my chest, takes weight, age, has a wrist watch so it should be accurate... that's alot to burning in 2 miles... I guess my cardio endurance is that bad.

stretching...when people in the exercise videos are touching their ankles and floor I'm lucky if I'm getting to my knees.

I don't know.. I know this is negative talk, but it feels like it's just harder for me to get fit. maybe some people are not meant to be fit?

Yes, it really does!! When I started I even thought I got injuried because at some points it was too painful, but now there's no pain anymore, KEEP GOING!!!

It is harder for some people - psychologically! I'm quite certain that nearly all people can at least getter fitter than they are. There are some people with various disabilities who will never be what we recognize as fit - but I suspect that even they can be fitter than they are.

YOu will continue to get sore - not as badly, in more of a good way - as you push yourself to lift more/heavier. Don't compare yourself to anyone else, just measure how much better you are doing now compared to where you were. All weight lifters have to start lower and move to heavier weights. You wouldn't expect to run a marathon if you'd never run before, right? So don't expect to lift heavy from the beginning - you have to work up to it.

Your cardio will likewise get better - you'll have more endurance. As for stretching, many of us are very "tight." Do what you can after you exercise. At some point you might want to try a yoga class or tape that will help you get more flexible....

Don't get discouraged - you're doing great! Just have patience, you'll get fit in the end.

no pain - no gain (loss) ....:-)))
joking a side , it gets easier as time goes by ...

I agree with Lucky Princess, when you get to the point where you don't feel anything after exercising, then it's time to step it up again, and go through the soreness for a while, because your body has adapted to the exercise and has gotten used to the extra activity.

And yes, it does get easier and the soreness goes away. I usually get extremely sore 2 days after I've changed activities/increased weight.

Good luck and stick with it!

I do NOT subscribe to the no pain no gain philosophy. That being said, I do believe you need to stretch, and drink plenty of fluids. I like a protein snack before I work out to help my muscles rebuild.

Make sure you are mixing it up a bit. Give your muscles time to rest and repair before you work them again. Alternating workouts and body focus area will help.

Alternating hot and cold can also help those muscles