Getting Healthy is Killing me!

I am 56 and a few weeks ago starting doing Stronglifts 5 x 5. Yes ...the DOMS.... it does usually last over until you lift again two days later!!!! I have been told that it does eventually go, but tbh, it kind of feels good. I can feel that the compound lifts really have worked almost all of the muscles in my body.

Yes, drinking loads of water does seem to be helping and I also do a Dynamic Stretch Routine every day if I can which also helps.

We shouldn't let our age put us off, if anything we should more so be doing this.

You are officially awesome...I don't think I've ever come across a woman of your age lifting heavy....you are awesome!

Oh I can assure you that there are many women my age and older who are lifting heavy. I have a number of them on my friends list. Just beginning so not that awesome.....YET

How much protein are you taking in a full day?

I am 56 and a few weeks ago starting doing Stronglifts 5 x 5. Yes ...the DOMS.... it does usually last over until you lift again two days later!!!! I have been told that it does eventually go, but tbh, it kind of feels good. I can feel that the compound lifts really have worked almost all of the muscles in my body.

Yes, drinking loads of water does seem to be helping and I also do a Dynamic Stretch Routine every day if I can which also helps.

We shouldn't let our age put us off, if anything we should more so be doing this.

You are officially awesome...I don't think I've ever come across a woman of your age lifting heavy....you are awesome!

There are more of us than you would think. My friend Sandra and I are only the tip of the iceberg. I am 54 (almost 55) and have been doing Stonglifts for 15 weeks. The 50s are now the new 30s. Haven't you heard??

Yep I'm 58 and have been lifting for almost a month

I've been working out for months and I'm sore every day. I didn't realize that was a bad thing.

Do you warm up? Do you cool down? Stretch afterwards? I know that now that I'm in my 50's, it's even more important to, or I hurt a LOT more. Don't be afraid to take some ibuprofen or tylenol and remember that some achiness is good, it means you're working your muscles. Take a nice warm bath, add some bubbles, a duck and whatever else makes you happy. :drinker:
Good luck and I hope you find a solution.

It's your age. I'm 53 and felt just like you. I was Sore all the time at 3 times a week - Not Fun!.

Switch to 2 times a week for your strength training - you will feel a lot better and isn't that what it is all about?

You just need to accept the fact that you will not progress as fast as you could when you were 20:)

I have not read all of the responses but I really want to say it is not age. I am 58 and I did P90X, P90X2, Insanity and am currently doing Les Mills Combat while doing P90X2 again. I know you will get good answers here so I will only add one thing. Get a foam roller. It was designed for body builders that have over trained. Use it. It really works.

I'm an old geezer too at 49. Have re-introduced weights since November. I used to do a lot of resistance training when I was younger. My workouts are still stuck in the 80s (ie lots of isolation exercises, not so many compound moves).

Maybe an 80s style workout is good for managing the soreness? I do delts, lats&traps, delts&arms, legs&hips for four days running and then repeat. Gives each muscle group plenty of time to recover between workouts.

Criticism and recommendations welcome to help get my exercise into this decade.

I can relate to what you're going through, kinda in the same boat. Just turned 44, never really lifted weights and just started a couple of months ago. I do strength training every other day (gives muscles time to heal, we need longer recovery time as we mature) I make sure to get some protein and carbs prior to lifting and have a protein shake afterwards. I still have D.O.M.S. you describe but not nearly as bad as when I started (unless I overdo it) Streching/cardio before lifting and stretching after are good. Nice hot shower after makes me feel better too. Remember...pain is weakness leaving the body. Don't quit and good luck to you.

It's your age. I'm 53 and felt just like you. I was Sore all the time at 3 times a week - Not Fun!.

Switch to 2 times a week for your strength training - you will feel a lot better and isn't that what it is all about?

You just need to accept the fact that you will not progress as fast as you could when you were 20:)

I call BS

Me too. I accept that if I can't do something - okay. But never because of my age. I lift 3X a week. Heavy with a barbell. I feel AWESOME. I have never lifted (or been athletic) in any way, shape or form since high school in the 70s. All I did then was run track. I am overweight (still have few to lose) and I don't accept that age thing.

I know just what you mean. I'm 40, and hadn't lifted weights regularly for 20 years when I started working out last year. I was amazed at how long it took me to recover from things as compared to the old days. I'm sure age plays a part, but as I've continued training, I've found that I'm recovering faster and feeling less soreness.

If I were you I'd take it easier for a while and just ramp things up slowly. Listen to your body and don't push it too hard when it's already trying to recover.

P90X is a great program. see my before and after pics on my blog. http;//www.XFitOnline.com

I started at 255lbs and 41% body fat. 9 months later, under 200lbs, I was in a 32" waist from a 40", my angina attacks stopped, my hair grew back from Alopecia, (look close at my before pic, you can see the baldness under the cover. and no more Fatty Liver Disease.

I'm 40!

my blog http://www.XFitOnline.com