How sore is sore enough for muscle building?

alaxsweetness

What I'm doing: 5-7 days of the week I do about 20-30 minutes of various pilates or muscle burning moves that work my arms, abs (including obliques and lower), back, butt, and legs. Usually if I do 20 minutes I do 10 minutes working everything and the other 10 minutes is focused on a specific area, usually abs or legs/butt. I try to switch up the moves I do but there are definitely favorites.

I am not normally sore the next day because I am particular about stretching out the muscles really well right after I work them and usually a few hours to 12 hours later. Should I be sore? How sore is too sore?

What is enough to build a little bit of muscle? I'm not looking for crazy results or body building results, I just would like a little more muscle definition that could help me out in other cardio workouts or daily activities.

jemhh

There is no causal link between muscle building and soreness.

CA_Underdog

When working the lower body, be sure to stop a set if your legs shake, as working further is counter-productive. (You presumably will use your legs extensively between workouts, and don't want to risk injury.)

Samby_v1

What is enough to build a little bit of muscle? I'm not looking for crazy results or body building results, I just would like a little more muscle definition that could help me out in other cardio workouts or daily activities.

To build muscle you'll need to eat more than your maintenance calories and lift heavy. For muscle definition, i.e. to see the muscle, you'll have to get rid of some of the fat covering it, so eat less than your main calories. And lift heavy

Soreness usually means your muscles aren't used to what you're doing. Most people believe in lifting 3 times per week, with rest days in-between, so soreness is fine unless it's too debilitating to work out.

geebusuk

As above, I wouldn't use soreness as a afactor, unless it's causing you problems.

Typically you'll want to work in the 5-12 rep range - where on your last set you can only just complete that rep range.

More than that and you're talking muscular endurance, rather than hypertrophy (making muscles bigger).

LazSommer

GOTTA GET THE PUMP TO GET SWOLE.

AJ_G

Soreness is irrelevant