too soon to work out the same muscles again?

Italianyc84

I've always skipped a day between working the same muscle group. If I work my biceps on Monday, I don't do biceps again until Wednesday, etc. To my understanding, this is to help the muscles grow, so you're not breaking them down...

This has always worked for me in the past. However, since I've started working out again (for the first time in a couple of years), I've been pushing myself more than I have before--I'm lifting far heavier (high weight low reps) than I ever have. Not to the point where I'm hurting myself, but to the point where today I still feel a bit sore in the muscles I worked on Tuesday. In years past, with lighter weights higher reps, I typically felt sore the next day but was fine by the 2nd day.

I was planning on going to the gym tonight and working those muscle groups, but my question is--if I'm still sore, have my muscles "recovered" enough to work them again, or should I wait another day?

koosdel

Wait another day.

4theking

Soreness is not a good indicator if it's safe to workout. You need a minimum of 1 day rest before working the same muscle again and sometimes much more.

debstanley4

bump