Upper body workout question...

Jd1360
Jd1360 Posts: 170 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Warning: this question might seem ultimately stupid.

I've been doing the treadmill for a number of years, but as I am losing weight this time around, I've been trying to work out my upper body. I tried a few small workout things, with no avail. Now I am doing the good, old-fashioned push ups. Okay, the girly kind against the wall, but still.

Here's my problem. It seems like I always, always, always can do a workout once and have muscle soreness. I like this. Makes me feel like I'm doing something! Then I do it again, the next day or the day after and it doesn't happen again.
I've continued doing push ups, but still not feeling muscle soreness. Should I be feeling this? Does it mean I'm not really building muscle if there's no after pain?
Help! I'm such a workout newb. :blushing:

Replies

  • Jd1360
    Jd1360 Posts: 170 Member
    Bump?
  • melissam226
    melissam226 Posts: 59
    I had to make myself get off the treadmill too and I started doing more all over body workouts (like lifting and circuit training). You should probably give your upper body about 48 hours to recover before doing anything again. And really push yourself each time (I know I'll feel it the next day when my arms are literally shaking during the last few reps of my workout).

    But remember, just because you're not sore doesn't you're not working your muscles! Keep at it!
  • Jd1360
    Jd1360 Posts: 170 Member
    Okay, this does make sense. I've always felt that if I feel muscle soreness that it means something's working and if I don't, then I'm doing it wrong. I'll keep doing it and pushing myself just a little harder, just so I feel better about it!

    Thanks!!
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    The soreness the first few times you do a new exercise is typical of course. After that you stop getting sore because your muscles are used to doing the exercise. It means nothing in terms of progress. There may be some mild stiffness or whatever of course as your muscles heal.

    Having said that, progression is always good. Once you can do a bunch of wall push-ups, move to knee push-ups, and eventually onto full push-ups. Then weighted push-ups! Use that as a measure of progress, not soreness.

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