if not sore after lifting, have you not worked hard enough?

HIITMe

pain= gain and all that stuff....

during my first week of lifting, I was sore but nothing that a good epsom salt bath and a massage from the hubby didnt fix.... I started with relatively light weights because I was concerned with form and because I was VERY weak... Im progressing slowly but notice Im not sore after lifting so far this week... I had increased the weights by 10 lbs... ( doing 5X5)

Should I be doing more to the point of muscle exhaution, so that I will be sore the next day?

fitbum19

I would say either add more weight or more reps. Sometimes your body just gets used to what you are doing. Maybe you need to switch it up and do different exercises. Everytime I switch up my routine, I get sore all over again :-)

AlsDonkBoxSquat

DOMS aren't necessarily an indicator of the effort put forth, just the efficieny at which your body does those exercises, what is however is if you get to the end of your sets and feel as though you can do more. If you can do more up your weight.

BellaFe

I have been lifting for 3 months, in the beginning I had a lot of soreness. As I progressed the only time I would get muscle soreness was when I would up my weight or if I changed up my routine to workout different muscle groups. Soreness comes and goes it doesn't mean you aren't working hard.

FullOfWin

Soreness or lack of is not a good indicator of a workout that will or will not produce results.

DavPul

Pain post workout does NOT equal gain. It only equals pain. It's not an indicator of a good workout.

Personally, I don't understand all the "Yay, I have DOMS" posts on this site. I don't want to any, tyvm. I avoid pain and discomfort at every opportunity. Maybe that's because I'm old. Or because I'm old school and don't use all the new technical jargon. I don't get DOMS. I just feel sore.

Chief_Rocka

Soreness or lack of is not a good indicator of a workout that will or will not produce results.

This. The best indicator of an effective workout is consistent progress.

ilovedeadlifts

Soreness or lack of is not a good indicator of a workout that will or will not produce results.

this.

FullOfWin

I avoid pain and discomfort at every opportunity

do you even lift?

Mustang_Susie

Just sounds like your body adjusted.
If I miss a week or more of lifting then I feel sore again.
Or if I work a different muscle group then I feel it.
Be safe and increase your weight as you feel comfortable.
If you lift routinely, you should be able to continue to progressively increase your weight (lifted, not gained back- lol)

jacksonpt

What is pain/soreness a sign off? Damaged muscle tissue?

romach79

I believe the soreness is s result of lactic acid buildup in the muscle, which is a by product of the muscle doing work; however, severe pain could indicate damage.

DavPul

I avoid pain and discomfort at every opportunity

do you even lift?

__RANDY__

I avoid pain and discomfort at every opportunity

do you even lift?

Chief_Rocka

What is pain/soreness a sign off? Damaged muscle tissue?

Inflammation in the connective tissue.

ItsCasey

Soreness or lack of is not a good indicator of a workout that will or will not produce results.

This. The best indicator of an effective workout is consistent progress.

Yes, both of these.

I see it all the time here and on Facebook ... people bragging about being so sore they struggle to get out of bed and how it's the best feeling in the world. Mild soreness - the kind that is slightly noticeable but doesn't bother or hinder you in any way - is basically a necessary evil for adaptation and strength gains, and you are likely to feel it as you progressively increase your workload. But deep muscle soreness that interferes with your basic movements and may even force you into an active recovery day rather than a training day is either a sign that you aren't working out enough or that you're working out too much.

Unknown

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contingencyplan

Not necessarily. I only get sore from my first time doing a particular workout regardless of load. Once the body gets accustomed to moving in that same way (which takes one single workout) no more soreness. Ever. Regardless of weight.

dsjohndrow

Well, the bath and massage helped - that is good.

What matters is reps. And there is no rush. Work your way up, move the weights up so that you can't do 1 more at 6-8 reps (for building) or 10-12 (for general strength) and doing three sets. If you are doing this 3 times a week, that is really great.

kaotik26

This was handy because I have been wondering the same thing. I have been using calisthenics and resistance bands until I can afford some weights but I was beginning to wonder if I was about to plateau. I have been doing more reps, that's about all I can do at this point.

alexbusnello

I rarely get sore and when I do, it's mild. I don't believe you have to be sore to build muscles and lean out. As long as you feel it during the workout and did your best and pushed yourself, I think that's what counts. If you're sore after, then that means you did something different or tried even harder.

bcf7683

I would say either add more weight or more reps. Sometimes your body just gets used to what you are doing. Maybe you need to switch it up and do different exercises. Everytime I switch up my routine, I get sore all over again :-)

^^Agreed. I'm not saying that you need to beat yourself up until you cant walk (although after leg day sometimes.....) but a little soreness means (to me at least) that I really got to the muscle that I was targeting. I usually only have soreness the first couple times I do a new exercise. Other than that, it's usually just a little tightness that a foam roller takes care of.

sdreed25

Not necessarily. I only get sore from my first time doing a particular workout regardless of load. Once the body gets accustomed to moving in that same way (which takes one single workout) no more soreness. Ever. Regardless of weight.

This ^^

bcf7683

I avoid pain and discomfort at every opportunity

do you even lift?

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: LOVE IT

Lleldiranne

I like a good sore feeling after working out. Not the kind where you can't move, but the kind where you feel the muscles you worked. I supposed it isn't really necessary, but it generally happens after a good workout.

A better indication, though, is if you are working the muscles to fatiuge/"failure." The building is really done on the last few reps, when you are pushing your muscles beyond what they are used to doing. If you don't feel tired after a workout, you haven't really done anything.

Lleldiranne

What is pain/soreness a sign off? Damaged muscle tissue?

When you push your muscles to fatigue, it causes tiny tears in the muscle fiber. This is what causes the soreness. This is also what causes your body to add muscle mass - so that the next time, it can do what you're asking of it.

(This is also why it is important to rest a muscle group a day between workouts, so alternate muscle groups).

I'll admit, my information is a few years old, please don't jump all over me if it's not in line with what everyone says today. I did learn it from a University weight training class, though, not just hearsay.

alexbusnello

I like a good sore feeling after working out. Not the kind where you can't move, but the kind where you feel the muscles you worked. I supposed it isn't really necessary, but it generally happens after a good workout.

A better indication, though, is if you are working the muscles to fatiuge/"failure." The building is really done on the last few reps, when you are pushing your muscles beyond what they are used to doing. If you don't feel tired after a workout, you haven't really done anything.

This. I agree. Feeling some soreness after a workout, even if it doesn't matter does feel good.

And I agree again. It's the energy and reps you put into the workout. Push to failure, try your very best, proper form and technique, listen to your body, ect. Eat healthy, healthy fats, lean proteins, whole grains/wheat, veggies, ect. And don't be afraid to treat yourself sometimes. If you didn't, you'd go nuts and your "diet" wouldn't last very long for long term goals and results. We're all human after all.

Oh, and lots of water. Squeezing lemon into cold water is great, too. And I heard black coffee helps repair muscles. Not sure if this is true, but it's something I thought I'd share.

nturner612

i was wondern the same thing. then it thought about it. when i am lifting say lunges, deadlift or squats.... I CAN FEEL MY HEART IN MY THROAT then i know im doing somethin right. not always sore. increasin weight on deadlift....yeah ill feel that one.

MrsT99

Stronglifts 5x5 you are MEANT to start fairly low so that you can increase the weights each time you work out and not hit a stall too early.

I am currently doing it too.

I only had bad soreness the first time I did the workouts and now I'm using much more challenging weights and its still not giving me the same level of DOMS so don't worry about it....I'm with whoever said each time they did a workout regardless of weight it only caused soreness the first time.

Chief_Rocka

When you push your muscles to fatigue, it causes tiny tears in the muscle fiber. This is what causes the soreness. This is also what causes your body to add muscle mass - so that the next time, it can do what you're asking of it.

No. It's inflammation in the connective tissue. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2277245/

cynthiaj777

I avoid pain and discomfort at every opportunity

do you even lift?

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: