Are sore muscles a goal?

Full4Life
Full4Life Posts: 172 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi. I like to try different exercises every once and awhile. My most recent love has been the New York City Ballet workout (wow, can anyone say 'defined butt'?!?)
I do this IN ADDITION to my running routine (3mi. hilly country 3-4x p/wk). I had to work up to that. I did it gradually with minor sore muscles and every time it gets too easy, I up it A LITTLE.
See, my goal is not to be a body builder, or even get too serious about an exercise routine - I want to be fit, I want to be healthy, I want to LOOK fit and healthy, but I want to LIVE. My main devotion is to my studies, my job and my life, not too calibrating diet plans or exercise regimes. I already have hobbies. Exercise should be enjoyable but not require too much thought.
So, with this in mind, I tried the Insanity workout AND OMG! I have been sore for two days!!! Like I can';t sit or walk right sore!
Please tell me there is a benefit to working out in this way. If so, what is it?
In addition, am I missing the point with the exercises I have ALREADY chosen?

Replies

  • FullOfWin
    FullOfWin Posts: 1,414 Member
    To answer the title, soreness or lack of is not an indicator of a workout that will or will not produce results.

    As far as what exercise to do, you should first determine what your goals are and then pick an exercise regime that best accomplishes those goals in the least amount of time spent and time passed. IMO Insanity does not fit this criteria for most people.
  • Leadfoot_Lewis
    Leadfoot_Lewis Posts: 1,623 Member
    Your body is shocked because you put it through something that it's not used to. It's referred to as the Alarm Reaction. The soreness you're feeling is called DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness).

    Soreness is in no way an indicator of a good workout. Once your body adjusts, your DOMS will be less and less or none at all.
  • emcohen
    emcohen Posts: 46
    Those P90X workouts and Insanity are really extreme workouts. I promise, it's just your body adjusting to the new movements. I've done P90X three times. Each time, I can't move the first week because of soreness/stiffness. It only lasts a couple of days. I'm in week 3 right now and don't feel it anymore.
  • Full4Life
    Full4Life Posts: 172 Member
    Those P90X workouts and Insanity are really extreme workouts. I promise, it's just your body adjusting to the new movements. I've done P90X three times. Each time, I can't move the first week because of soreness/stiffness. It only lasts a couple of days. I'm in week 3 right now and don't feel it anymore.
    I think I've pretty much decided that those workouts are not my style. You said you've done px90 three times?!? First, kudos to you!!! Second, I don't want a program to "repeat." I'm more interested in building a skill set that fits my life. That's why I keep hopping around exercise routines.

    That aside, I think my question was more if I should TRY to find ways to make my muscles sore, that there was some benefit to it that i was missing...
  • Leadfoot_Lewis
    Leadfoot_Lewis Posts: 1,623 Member
    That aside, I think my question was more if I should TRY to find ways to make my muscles sore, that there was some benefit to it that i was missing...

    This was answered in my post above ^^^ ... "Soreness is in no way an indicator of a good workout"
  • rock127
    rock127 Posts: 369 Member
    Hi. I like to try different exercises every once and awhile. My most recent love has been the New York City Ballet workout (wow, can anyone say 'defined butt'?!?)
    I do this IN ADDITION to my running routine (3mi. hilly country 3-4x p/wk). I had to work up to that. I did it gradually with minor sore muscles and every time it gets too easy, I up it A LITTLE.
    See, my goal is not to be a body builder, or even get too serious about an exercise routine - I want to be fit, I want to be healthy, I want to LOOK fit and healthy, but I want to LIVE. My main devotion is to my studies, my job and my life, not too calibrating diet plans or exercise regimes. I already have hobbies. Exercise should be enjoyable but not require too much thought.
    So, with this in mind, I tried the Insanity workout AND OMG! I have been sore for two days!!! Like I can';t sit or walk right sore!
    Please tell me there is a benefit to working out in this way. If so, what is it?
    In addition, am I missing the point with the exercises I have ALREADY chosen?

    Not sure whats your goal(weight to lose/gain etc) so provide some more details.

    Sore muscles indicates many things ie.. too much exercise or less rest or improper diet.If you are too busy with all those things then don't do so much of workouts.
  • Full4Life
    Full4Life Posts: 172 Member
    Thanks!

    I liked your opinion. It seems very logical, backed by some real knowledge and frankly - common sense. I will probably follow your advice. But I do like to hear many opinions. Is that okay?
  • dantrick
    dantrick Posts: 369 Member
    I think what your really looking into is muscle confusion. if you do the same exercise over and over again you become used to it and the benefits from it become less and less. by changing up the exercise you will then regain the benefits of when you first started an exercise on that muscle group. it's not necessarily soreness your looking for. try switching up your exercise routine every 3 weeks. I noticed you said you didn't want to be a body builder. IMO body building has gotten a bad rap due to those on steroids. I think that's why a lot of female body builders prefer the term body sculpting.

Categories