It'll get easier the more you continue you workout until you reach new stages and work new muscles. For the time being, take some tylenol or advil and make sure you keep moving. Stretching your muscles will actually help to relieve some of the pain. Also make sure on lifting days that you're getting enough protein!

OH I feel your pain!! When I upped my deadlifts weight I had to take 2 days off. My back was so sore (not painful - just truly worked). I was taking Aleve before bed and then a couple ibprophen when I woke up and felt much better as the days progressed. Stay moving - if you can.

And don't forget your stretching after working out (I always forget or am pressed for time and therefore pay for it the next day).

Happy lifting!!

Thanks for reminding me, I need to stretch after my workouts. That's one thing I've completely skipped thus far, and I have habituallly gotten sore every time I increase my weight (the soreness just isn't as bad as the initial soreness). Mental note: stretch! I also second the idea to keep moving, it really helps.

It sounds odd, but working the muscle again has always helped me.

^^^This for me too...as well as alleve

The only time i really suffer from DOMS is when I haven't warmed up properly, if I'm pressed for time then I just think oh a couple of warm up lifts will do, then next morning BAM!! lol I don't do stretching after, never have done, just the way I do it I find that if you have DOMS lightly work that area again to get the blood pumping to it and you will feel better

I use a foam roller after soccer training if I have been doing sprint training, but again if I didn't warm up properly then i will still get muscle ache no matter what I do afterwards

Warm Up - Lift - Stretch - Walk

I learned this my first day when I added weight to my squats (never had before) and almost fell down the stairs as I left the weight room because my quads hurt so much!

That being said you should always have a rest day in the middle, and as long as you are sore from the workout and not in pain because you hurt yourself, working out again the following day will actually help with the soreness.

I love my foam roller! It takes a little bit of getting used to the exercises that will give you the best release but it's so worth it once you figure it all out.

Also, lots of water, protein and stretching. And moving! Keep moving. It totally helps!

I don't use painkillers unless the aches are keeping me up at night-- only to get some sleep. I figure my body has enough work to do healing without me throwing some confusion on it.

As a result, my coworkers see me shuffling around the office and holler at me to get some coffee.

I have heard that alternating hot-cold showers helps.

Also for the most part, it gets better! I'm in stage 4 and I can't remember the last time I had to skip a workout.