How to deal with soreness?

There's a difference between sore and pain that can be indicative of a bigger problem.

I'm not an expert, but here's what I do.

If I'm just sore, I get in a good stretch, take some Advil and keep on going. I do this because if I wait until I'm not sore anymore to work out again, I'll only prolong it. If I am are so sore that walking really hurts, then I take a day off (or have a light day) and get back to it the next day.

I'm going through this right now because I took 6 weeks off of CrossFit and now I'm back. I worked out Monday, worked through soreness on Tuesday, took of Wednesday and when back today. I'm not nearly as sore today as I was on Tuesday.

I just Give my muscles a little massage every now and then and stretch but that's it. I do take a day or so off from working out.

Normally if you are sore the day after a workout, even very sore, that's normal. But if you're very sore, not slightly, 2 days after the workout, then that's an indication that your workout was more challenging for your level than it should have been and you should give yourself another day to recover (see how to recover in next paragraph...it doesn't mean take a day off from any physical activity). When you work out, it creates little micro-tears in your muscles, that's what creates the soreness. A little soreness is good, your body heals the tears & those micro tears make your muscle stronger. If you're too sore, then that indicates it's excessive tears & can actually be detrimental to strengthening those muscles. Regarding the advice to just take some "Advil" (or any other pain relief) & do your workout, it's NEVER a good idea to do a workout where a pain reliever might be masking pain that could be telling you that you're about to injure yourself. When you do a workout, you should be able to feel everything that's going on. If you're working w/a trainer, talk to them about backing off a bit on the intensity. If you're working out in a class, consider backing off a bit...better to do that than risk injury that could sideline you.

RECOVERY...gentle workouts are actually good, because they get the circulation going into those sore muscles, which aids healing. So an easy run, bike ride, or walk...whatever doesn't make things hurt too bad. You could also increase the time you do it, since it'll be an easier workout....so longer, but easier. The first 24 hours that you're very sore, ice is good on the sore spots, to reduce swelling. After 24 hours, then heat increases circulation, which again helps heal things faster. Whether ice or heat, shoot for 20 min on, 10 min off, repeating....if you leave it on too long, the benefits aren't as good. Massaging the area gently also helps it heal faster. It's ok to take anti-inflammatories if you're not going to be working out, to reduce inflammation in the sore muscles. Make sure that it IS an anti-inflammatory though...Ibuprophen (Motrin or Advil), aspirin, naproxen (Alleve)....but NOT Tylenol, which is only pain relief NOT anti-inflammatory. But as always, it's good to check w/your doctor for the best treatment for YOU.

Don't let this discourage you, keep on keeping on...it'll get easier & easier.

I've found that a bath with epsom salts works wonders.