I'm sore, but can I still work out!?

For working out muscles, you should let that muscle "group" rest at least 48 hours between a hard work out (with the exception apparently of Abs - they can be worked out daily). Basically, when you do any sort of strength training, you are breaking down the muscle fibers, and they need time to repair. When I do strength training, if I'm doing a total body work out, I do it on alternating days, and do cardio on the other days. Some folks will do upper body one day, an then lower body the next. Drinking lots of water will help flush out the lactic acid.

As long as the pain is muscle fatigue, all is good. If it's a different kind of pain from say a sprain, then that's a whole different thing.
Cate

Generally, it's okay work out a different muscle group. So if your arms are sore, working out your legs or abs is fine (or vice versa). If you're all around sore, you should probably take a rest day. When you do ST such as Insanity you are actually causing micro tears in your muscles which need time to recover. You can do some light cardio if you really want to work out.

[see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microtrauma]

Of course you can! I always do. In fact, it helps my soreness.

I would keep working out. That's how your muscles improve...your body repairs the muscles and they become stronger or more toned or whatever. If it's something that you just can not work through then don't do it...you have to listen to your body on that.

Acute pain...no. You need to rest. General soreness from muscle stiffness...work on through it!

For working out muscles, you should let that muscle "group" rest at least 48 hours between a hard work out (with the exception apparently of Abs - they can be worked out daily). Basically, when you do any sort of strength training, you are breaking down the muscle fibers, and they need time to repair. When I do strength training, if I'm doing a total body work out, I do it on alternating days, and do cardio on the other days. Some folks will do upper body one day, an then lower body the next. Drinking lots of water will help flush out the lactic acid.

As long as the pain is muscle fatigue, all is good. If it's a different kind of pain from say a sprain, then that's a whole different thing.
Cate

i disagree with what she she about working abs daily. EVERY muscle group needs a rest once in a while. U should just focus on different muscle groups when you have the sore ones, and keep rotating muscle groups regardless as to whether they are sore or not. You should always cycle through different parts on different days. P90X is a good program for showing you that. abs are like every-other day along with your regular stuff. and I always add a lil more cardio to my already vigorous p90x workout. I have lost 30 pounds.....miss lady up there has lost 0. who do you believe?

[quote/]i disagree with what she she about working abs daily. EVERY muscle group needs a rest once in a while. U should just focus on different muscle groups when you have the sore ones, and keep rotating muscle groups regardless as to whether they are sore or not. You should always cycle through different parts on different days. P90X is a good program for showing you that. abs are like every-other day along with your regular stuff. and I always add a lil more cardio to my already vigorous p90x workout. I have lost 30 pounds.....miss lady up there has lost 0. who do you believe?
[/quote]

Wow...really? I believe Cates, not because she's lost 0 - even though abs has nothing to do whatsoever with losing weight - but because she can string 2 sentences together and doesn't appear to have the academic and social maturity of a 7 year old. Abs HAVE to be worked out everyday if you want real results. All muscles are not created equally. Look things up before you start spewing out ignorance as facts.
I know this wasn't an abs thread, but I mean...someone had to say something!

I remember in gym class our gym teacher said you have to keep working out when you are sore or you will be more sore every time you take rests in between. She also said that the only thing that would help soreness go away is to keep working out. Unless you are injured, there is nothing wrong with working through the soreness.