Workout Aches!

spyro88

So I have been going to the gym most days for the past couple of weeks now, and I'm starting to really feel it! 'Hurts so good' as they say - but I was wondering, is it advisable to rest your body if you have workout aches and pains, or is it ok to just push through this and carry on? Don't want to do any damage and I'm pretty clueless / new to exercise! Thanks for any advice

firef1y72

Is it an ache or a pain? If it's just aching then I'll push through, especially as warming the muscles up will usually ease the aches (I did a bodypump class the day after a half marathon and although I went lighter than usual it really eased my aching legs). But if it's actual pain and hurts or doesn't ease with warming up then I'll stop and rest. It's all about knowing your body and listening to it.

eta : and taking regular rest days, even though I hate rest days, I have at least one a week because I know that's when my body is actually repairing and getting stronger.

spyro88

Thank you. I think it just aches because my body isn't used to it. Like this morning my legs were killing but once I was at the gym and had got started it eased a little - it felt better whilst I was actually moving. But now I'm home again the aches are back with a vengeance lol! Will push on and listen to my body. Thanks

H_Ock12

I push through soreness and (chronic) pain on a regular basis. But I also take two rest days per week to allow my body to recover. A long walk or a light jog are good for working DOMS out of your muscles.

tinkerbellang83

As long as it's aches and not actual pain, you should be fine.

Making sure your nutrition is up to scratch, keeping hydrated and having a good stretch out afterwards can help, also as you've already noticed, keeping moving also helps ease the DOMs.

lorrpb

Learn to pace yourself. This concept is lost on most beginner and many other people. You can workout 3x a week for awhile then gradually increase as your body adjusts. This helps prevent burnout and backsliding too.

Psychgrrl

Foam rolling right after your workout can greatly reduce DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness).

I also roll a bit each night to help ease out the day's tension.

spyro88

Thank you everyone for the advice. What is foam rolling?

canadianlbs

spyro88 wrote: »

Thank you everyone for the advice. What is foam rolling?

tons of info out there about making a fine art of it, but it's basically like a way of massaging yourself. with a roller-shaped thing made of um . . . foam.

https://breakingmuscle.com/fitness/what-is-a-foam-roller-how-do-i-use-it-and-why-does-it-hurt

i actually prefer using balls for some things as rollers can be unwieldy unless you just want to go back and forth in a consistent straight line. any toystore has a section for toddler toys and it's a sore-muscles-person's delight.

after a while you get used to the different version of 'pain' that working out brings. so then it gets easier to know whether you should push through or lay off.

Okiludy

Things that helped me. Sleeping 8 hours every night. This is the single most important thing that I have to do. Not enough sleep means DOMS is almost assuredly hitting. Another thing that may or may not help is increasing protein. I seem to recover better with more protein but everyone is different.

spyro88

Oh wow, thanks for explaining canadianlbs, I have a lot to learn I will ask around at my gym about that too - I am seeing a personal trainer next week.

And yes Okiludy getting enough sleep is something I am struggling with at the moment, but you're right, sometimes it's the simple things! Thank you x