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MUSCLE SORNESS post that will never be read by anyone
ArroganceInStep
Posts: 6,239 Member
<rant>
Instead of coming onto the forums and stating 'I worked out yesterday and I'm supposed to work out today...but I'm sooooooooo sore what should I do?????' take a minute and try to figure it out for yourself.
I'm 27 and a former athlete. I'm out of shape from years of being sedentary and eating all the delicious foods to great excess, but I can still push myself pretty hard in the gym. So when a 65 year old woman comes on here and says 'I walked a mile yesterday and I'm so sore should I skip my workout today?' I can safely say 'push through it' and my advice would be valid...for me. I don't know that said person has bad arthritis in both knees and her right ankle, is recovering from mono, and has a torn ALLOFTHEM-CL. In that case, the lady should probably not take my perfectly reasonable advice and should sit the f*** down and get some rest. But what she should really do is recognize that she's busted up herself rather than trying to get permission to heal from someone she's never met.
By the same token, if I post about trying some obscure Russian lifting method that has me squatting 8 times a week, people are quick to shout 'zomg overtraining' or 'your knees are literally going to turn into chainsaws and will shred up your whole body and face Texas Chainsaw Massacre style'. They don't know anything about my work capacity, or how much I'm eating/resting to account for the workload. Maybe I could handle it and see success from that kind of program, you certainly don't know.
When you work out, it should be uncomfortable. It should strain your body. This strain can and will cause soreness. In general, a good way to address that soreness is to force blood through the area. How do you do that? By stretching or working out. Or you can rest, and it'll work itself out that way too. Or you could keep whining about it on the forums, I guess that works for some folks?
Soreness is generally a dull to moderate throbbing or stiffness. If it's sharp, shooting, burns, makes funny noises, or has an odor like rotten cheese farts, go to a damn doctor! As far as I know, no one on the MFP forums can remotely take an MRI of your knee, so go get a professional to do it.
Also, if you're already injured, any advice to push through it goes right out the damn window (duh). I have a friend who's a corrections officer. He has an injured shoulder and knee from altercations at his job. You know what he does? Surprisingly, he doesn't logon to MFP to ask if he should skip shoulder day because he's sore...he just favors his shoulder and knee. He gets the work in that he can, and stops if he starts to feel uncomfortable. He knows he needs to maintain as much mobility and strength as he can as he can't risk getting injured (it would potentially put him in danger at work). He's not going to get accurate medical advice here since he doesn't post his medical history on the forums, and neither are you.
The MFP forums are a fantastic place to get suggestions and reference material to do your own research. Much of the knowledge I have regarding fitness and nutrition came from links posted by folks on here that are far smarter than I. That knowledge came from asking how things worked (what are the principles behind IIFYM, what are good exercises that target your hamstrings, where can I find good videos of proper technique for front squats, which chicks on here have the best spank bank profile pics...I mean are the most motivational). I then applied that information to myself as best I could. I didn't try to skip the step that takes work and ask things with no background info that no one could possibly answer on the forums (should I do cardio or lift today, can I do 6 sets of squats instead of 5, is Paleo right for me, can I have a piece of cheesecake for dessert, why does nobody love me, why does it burn when I pee, what the hell did the ending of Inception mean).
There's a lot of information to be had here, but you have to be willing to put the work in. You have to actually understand the principles behind the information and how it applies to you personally. Other people aren't going to be able to do that for you, and they certainly can't tell you with any confidence if that twinge in your chest is just a little tightness that'll go away when you hit C25K this afternoon or if Uma Thurman hit you with the exploding heart technique in your sleep (by the way, why didn't David Carradine just confine himself to a wheelchair after that?)
Also, boobs
</rant>
Instead of coming onto the forums and stating 'I worked out yesterday and I'm supposed to work out today...but I'm sooooooooo sore what should I do?????' take a minute and try to figure it out for yourself.
I'm 27 and a former athlete. I'm out of shape from years of being sedentary and eating all the delicious foods to great excess, but I can still push myself pretty hard in the gym. So when a 65 year old woman comes on here and says 'I walked a mile yesterday and I'm so sore should I skip my workout today?' I can safely say 'push through it' and my advice would be valid...for me. I don't know that said person has bad arthritis in both knees and her right ankle, is recovering from mono, and has a torn ALLOFTHEM-CL. In that case, the lady should probably not take my perfectly reasonable advice and should sit the f*** down and get some rest. But what she should really do is recognize that she's busted up herself rather than trying to get permission to heal from someone she's never met.
By the same token, if I post about trying some obscure Russian lifting method that has me squatting 8 times a week, people are quick to shout 'zomg overtraining' or 'your knees are literally going to turn into chainsaws and will shred up your whole body and face Texas Chainsaw Massacre style'. They don't know anything about my work capacity, or how much I'm eating/resting to account for the workload. Maybe I could handle it and see success from that kind of program, you certainly don't know.
When you work out, it should be uncomfortable. It should strain your body. This strain can and will cause soreness. In general, a good way to address that soreness is to force blood through the area. How do you do that? By stretching or working out. Or you can rest, and it'll work itself out that way too. Or you could keep whining about it on the forums, I guess that works for some folks?
Soreness is generally a dull to moderate throbbing or stiffness. If it's sharp, shooting, burns, makes funny noises, or has an odor like rotten cheese farts, go to a damn doctor! As far as I know, no one on the MFP forums can remotely take an MRI of your knee, so go get a professional to do it.
Also, if you're already injured, any advice to push through it goes right out the damn window (duh). I have a friend who's a corrections officer. He has an injured shoulder and knee from altercations at his job. You know what he does? Surprisingly, he doesn't logon to MFP to ask if he should skip shoulder day because he's sore...he just favors his shoulder and knee. He gets the work in that he can, and stops if he starts to feel uncomfortable. He knows he needs to maintain as much mobility and strength as he can as he can't risk getting injured (it would potentially put him in danger at work). He's not going to get accurate medical advice here since he doesn't post his medical history on the forums, and neither are you.
The MFP forums are a fantastic place to get suggestions and reference material to do your own research. Much of the knowledge I have regarding fitness and nutrition came from links posted by folks on here that are far smarter than I. That knowledge came from asking how things worked (what are the principles behind IIFYM, what are good exercises that target your hamstrings, where can I find good videos of proper technique for front squats, which chicks on here have the best spank bank profile pics...I mean are the most motivational). I then applied that information to myself as best I could. I didn't try to skip the step that takes work and ask things with no background info that no one could possibly answer on the forums (should I do cardio or lift today, can I do 6 sets of squats instead of 5, is Paleo right for me, can I have a piece of cheesecake for dessert, why does nobody love me, why does it burn when I pee, what the hell did the ending of Inception mean).
There's a lot of information to be had here, but you have to be willing to put the work in. You have to actually understand the principles behind the information and how it applies to you personally. Other people aren't going to be able to do that for you, and they certainly can't tell you with any confidence if that twinge in your chest is just a little tightness that'll go away when you hit C25K this afternoon or if Uma Thurman hit you with the exploding heart technique in your sleep (by the way, why didn't David Carradine just confine himself to a wheelchair after that?)
Also, boobs
</rant>
0
Replies
-
<comment>
TL;DR
Saw "boobs"
Smiled.
Thank you.
</comment>0 -
Read the first three lines and the last. It's legit. Carry on.0
-
<rant>
Instead of coming onto the forums and stating 'I worked out yesterday and I'm supposed to work out today...but I'm sooooooooo sore what should I do?????' take a minute and try to figure it out for yourself.
I'm 27 and a former athlete. I'm out of shape from years of being sedentary and eating all the delicious foods to great excess, but I can still push myself pretty hard in the gym. So when a 65 year old woman comes on here and says 'I walked a mile yesterday and I'm so sore should I skip my workout today?' I can safely say 'push through it' and my advice would be valid...for me. I don't know that said person has bad arthritis in both knees and her right ankle, is recovering from mono, and has a torn ALLOFTHEM-CL. In that case, the lady should probably not take my perfectly reasonable advice and should sit the f*** down and get some rest. But what she should really do is recognize that she's busted up herself rather than trying to get permission to heal from someone she's never met.
By the same token, if I post about trying some obscure Russian lifting method that has me squatting 8 times a week, people are quick to shout 'zomg overtraining' or 'your knees are literally going to turn into chainsaws and will shred up your whole body and face Texas Chainsaw Massacre style'. They don't know anything about my work capacity, or how much I'm eating/resting to account for the workload. Maybe I could handle it and see success from that kind of program, you certainly don't know.
When you work out, it should be uncomfortable. It should strain your body. This strain can and will cause soreness. In general, a good way to address that soreness is to force blood through the area. How do you do that? By stretching or working out. Or you can rest, and it'll work itself out that way too. Or you could keep whining about it on the forums, I guess that works for some folks?
Soreness is generally a dull to moderate throbbing or stiffness. If it's sharp, shooting, burns, makes funny noises, or has an odor like rotten cheese farts, go to a damn doctor! As far as I know, no one on the MFP forums can remotely take an MRI of your knee, so go get a professional to do it.
Also, if you're already injured, any advice to push through it goes right out the damn window (duh). I have a friend who's a corrections officer. He has an injured shoulder and knee from altercations at his job. You know what he does? Surprisingly, he doesn't logon to MFP to ask if he should skip shoulder day because he's sore...he just favors his shoulder and knee. He gets the work in that he can, and stops if he starts to feel uncomfortable. He knows he needs to maintain as much mobility and strength as he can as he can't risk getting injured (it would potentially put him in danger at work). He's not going to get accurate medical advice here since he doesn't post his medical history on the forums, and neither are you.
The MFP forums are a fantastic place to get suggestions and reference material to do your own research. Much of the knowledge I have regarding fitness and nutrition came from links posted by folks on here that are far smarter than I. That knowledge came from asking how things worked (what are the principles behind IIFYM, what are good exercises that target your hamstrings, where can I find good videos of proper technique for front squats, which chicks on here have the best spank bank profile pics...I mean are the most motivational). I then applied that information to myself as best I could. I didn't try to skip the step that takes work and ask things with no background info that no one could possibly answer on the forums (should I do cardio or lift today, can I do 6 sets of squats instead of 5, is Paleo right for me, can I have a piece of cheesecake for dessert, why does nobody love me, why does it burn when I pee, what the hell did the ending of Inception mean).
There's a lot of information to be had here, but you have to be willing to put the work in. You have to actually understand the principles behind the information and how it applies to you personally. Other people aren't going to be able to do that for you, and they certainly can't tell you with any confidence if that twinge in your chest is just a little tightness that'll go away when you hit C25K this afternoon or if Uma Thurman hit you with the exploding heart technique in your sleep (by the way, why didn't David Carradine just confine himself to a wheelchair after that?)
Also, boobs
</rant>
Totally agree, but the bolded part is too much for some. IMO, too many people want to be told what to eat and when to eat it, how to work out and when to do it, then see results the next day.0 -
Love it
I honestly love reading the threads on MFP, 95% is for entertainment value 0 -
Great post. It applies to virtually every decision on here. Read the advice of others, then listen to your own body. And, as you say, learn what's happening.0
-
Honestly - good post.
Next time start with boobs
0 -
Great post, my friend!0
-
<comment>
TL;DR
Saw "boobs"
Smiled.
Thank you.
</comment>
This...0 -
I totally agree!!
In getting fit I have spent as much time learning and reading as I have working out.
When you understand "why" you are doing something it makes it much easier to adapt a plan to fit your life.
It is a tremendous ammout of work to filter thought the a$$loads of misinformation and junk science that is out there in the world of nutrition and fitness.
As far as pushing through soreness I find people tend to gravitate too one of these
type 1: will fight through the pain, this includes running on an injury which just makes injuries worse
type 2: walked 1/2 mile yesterday needs a rest day because the tired hurts so bad0 -
and they certainly can't tell you with any confidence if that twinge in your chest is just a little tightness that'll go away when you hit C25K this afternoon
This is an excellent point, I always laugh when people as others to diagnose their "pain." It takes experience to know the difference between "good soreness" and injury, and when you should push through, work around, or back off completely. If you're not sure, the safest thing to do is to rest & recover. If you're going to do something, start easy/light and see how you feel.0 -
If x hurts today, work y. Tomorrow, work x. Repeat process. Eventually it will get a little better...but not much. That's why it's called working out and not "getting naked and rubbing cake all over ourselves." And if you really really aren't sure...go to the doctor.0
-
I'm with you, man...totally didn't get the ending of Inception. My wife things the top was going to stop and I think it kept spinning.
Also, I'm 42 and have a bum right shoulder that hurts if I try too many reps on overhead press. I'm thinking I should push through with even more reps to show my shoulder who the boss is. Your thoughts, please?0 -
I slept through Inception. That approaches irony right?0
-
Honestly - good post.
Next time start with boobs
And pictures would help.
On a running forum today was a discussion on "dead legs". Same concept, majority of responses were "work through it buttercup". Workout soreness is to be expected most of the time, you pushed your body outside of its comfort zone.0 -
Read the first three lines and the last. It's legit. Carry on.
Hmm. That's what happened to me, too. LOL!0 -
I see no reason that people can't come here and ask. There is a ton of information to process. I would never assume that someone has not been trying and reading and thinking and just needs some people to talk to, to help work it out in their heads.
This is what community forums are, to help you get to the answers you need. Seriously, I'm so happy you know everything you need to know about you, but, you seem a bit self involved. If you don't want to help anyone you need not read or answer any posts seeking help.0 -
I'm with you, man...totally didn't get the ending of Inception. My wife things the top was going to stop and I think it kept spinning.
Also, I'm 42 and have a bum right shoulder that hurts if I try too many reps on overhead press. I'm thinking I should push through with even more reps to show my shoulder who the boss is. Your thoughts, please?
It's almost as if it was meant to be ambiguous or something!!!
And yes, definitely. Also, just to truley make your shoulder submit, lift double the weight you normally do, for 902 reps per set. And if that's too easy, dislocate your shoulder0 -
I see no reason that people can't come here and ask. There is a ton of information to process. I would never assume that someone has not been trying and reading and thinking and just needs some people to talk to, to help work it out in their heads.
This is what community forums are, to help you get to the answers you need. Seriously, I'm so happy you know everything you need to know about you, but, you seem a bit self involved. If you don't want to help anyone you need not read or answer any posts seeking help.
I think you missed my point, which was that many people are asking questions that can't be answered on the forums, rather than the ones which would actually help them. I think the MFP community is great and said so in the OP.
And yes, I'm very self involved, is it that obvious? I'm kind of a big deal.0 -
I actually read it all (short attention span over here) and agree with you entirely!
WTF are you doing, putting logic and reason into the forums... especially so EARLY in the morning? hehe
Job well done OP. 0 -
and they certainly can't tell you with any confidence if that twinge in your chest is just a little tightness that'll go away when you hit C25K this afternoon
This is an excellent point, I always laugh when people as others to diagnose their "pain." It takes experience to know the difference between "good soreness" and injury, and when you should push through, work around, or back off completely. If you're not sure, the safest thing to do is to rest & recover. If you're going to do something, start easy/light and see how you feel.0 -
I see no reason that people can't come here and ask. There is a ton of information to process. I would never assume that someone has not been trying and reading and thinking and just needs some people to talk to, to help work it out in their heads.
This is what community forums are, to help you get to the answers you need. Seriously, I'm so happy you know everything you need to know about you, but, you seem a bit self involved. If you don't want to help anyone you need not read or answer any posts seeking help.
completely missed the point.0 -
I see no reason that people can't come here and ask. There is a ton of information to process. I would never assume that someone has not been trying and reading and thinking and just needs some people to talk to, to help work it out in their heads.
This is what community forums are, to help you get to the answers you need. Seriously, I'm so happy you know everything you need to know about you, but, you seem a bit self involved. If you don't want to help anyone you need not read or answer any posts seeking help.
completely missed the point.
No I don't think I did. If people come in here asking the wrong questions, its by virtue of talking it out with others (who ask them the right questions) that they get to the right ones, and learn.0 -
I see no reason that people can't come here and ask. There is a ton of information to process. I would never assume that someone has not been trying and reading and thinking and just needs some people to talk to, to help work it out in their heads.
This is what community forums are, to help you get to the answers you need. Seriously, I'm so happy you know everything you need to know about you, but, you seem a bit self involved. If you don't want to help anyone you need not read or answer any posts seeking help.
completely missed the point.
No I don't think I did. If people come in here asking the wrong questions, its by virtue of talking it out with others (who ask them the right questions) that they get to the right ones, and learn.
the point is that others are not going to be able to help you. this wont work unless you figure it out for yourself and your body.
in other words, how on earth are we supposed to know what works for you? have we been feeding your body? ignoring it? hating it? working it? loving it? watching it do good and do bad?
people show up and expect a blanket answer for every. single. question.
except the one that does have a universal answer, that one they dont want.0 -
No I don't think I did. If people come in here asking the wrong questions, its by virtue of talking it out with others (who ask them the right questions) that they get to the right ones, and learn.
That's a fair point, but I tend to disagree with you. I think what happens when you ask the wrong question is that you get people who know nothing about you and your circumstances answering with solutions from their own experiences, so you get all kinds of responses that might be perfectly reasonable for the person posing the solution, but have little to know bearing on the person asking the question.
Example: A woman posts "I stepped on the scale and gained 3lbs!!!"
"You're eating too much"
"You need to eat more, you're starving yourself"
"You need to eat less sodium, you're bloated"
"You need to change your diet to XYZ"
"You need to do more cardio"
"You should lift more"
"Take up IF, it really works"
All perfectly reasonable solutions that may or may not have worked for the people who said them, but have no bearing on the OP. All we know is that she's freaking out about the weighin on the scale, so presumably she wasn't bulking. That's it, maybe a couple tidbits from her profile like age or what her diet was like for the past few days. We don't even know the timeframe under which she gained the 3 pounds. That's not nearly enough information to provide meaningful feedback that will actually help the OP.
Instead:
"I deviated from my diet yesterday and had XYZ when I usually eat ZYX, would this cause a large increase on the scale? If so, can you elaborate on it?"
"I've been eating XYZ for the past month and I expected to maintain my weight but instead I'm a few pounds over. Are there other factors that could be involved that would skew the scale results besides my diet being off? How do I figure out if reducing my calories from where it's at now to stop gaining weight would be safe?"
"What are some indicators that you use to keep your diet in check. I've been trying to stay on point with it but I've gained a few pounds and am worried I might be missing something. I'm currently doing XYZ. My stats are ABC"
All much better questions that will get more accurate answers.0 -
Also, boobs.0
This discussion has been closed.
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