Why do people like DOMS?

Because sometimes for consistent exercisers, it's a great indicator that you UPPED your intensity or program.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I've never been a fan of it myself. But if you work areas you rarely work, or work any area really hard, sooner or later it's going to happen.

It's going to happen as you try new things or up exercise intensity, change variables, etc.; it just shouldn't be something to shoot for all the time and it seems like that's a common view.

Just like sweating your *kitten* off or puking seems to be common. Somebody was talking to me after a squat session where I was just doing singles and she said, "I can't believe your're not sweating your *kitten* off like me." I said, "I set my training goals and as long as I hit my training goals that's all that matters. If I sweat my *kitten* off then fine, if not fine, if I'm sore then fine, if I'm not sore then fine; all that matters is that I achieve my goals with the plan I set-out with."

I like them! Especially during a full body stretch the next day, feels good.

Ok not really, but I do like the reminder sometimes that I killed it and my muscles are talking back (though the time frame is usually more like 24-48 hours).

I really don't think about it much, If i'm beating my logbook and getting stronger week to week month to month i really don't worry much if i'm getting sore or not.

A lack of DOMS doesn't mean you didn't work out hard. Even when I started seriously lifting weights, I've never suffered from DOMS. I was doing push-ups before then and, yeah, got DOMS when I first started those. There is no scientific consensus about why DOMS happens. Since I'm so active in general I hardly get DOMS anymore. My butt muscles are always sore after a dance class, but that's common among all dancers.

no idea; i loathe it!

BZAH10 wrote: »

fannyfrost wrote: »

People who enjoy it are just happy that they got something out of the workout. It isn't the pain they enjoy (well unless they really like pain, but generally that is a small percentage of people), it is the feeling that the workout was effective.

I don't enjoy DOMS, but if I felt like a muscle needed a workout and I get sore after, well I know I got it!

This exactly for me. Particularly for those of us who've worked out regularly for years. When I do get any kind of muscle soreness it tells me I've targeted an area I must've been neglecting, so I see it as a good thing. Not the pain itself, but the accomplishment.

This! I just take it as a sign that that particular muscle group needed the exercise.

Machka9 wrote: »

DOMS makes me feel just a bit sad ... that I've let myself go enough to feel DOMS when I start working out again.

Maybe I should add that just about the only time I experience DOMS is if I haven't been weightlifting for 6+ months, and then I start again. DOMS will hit me hard the day after the first over-all workout, then mildly after the second and third workout, and then it's gone. I can increase weights, increase intensity, change my routine, etc., but as long as I'm working out regularly and making the changes relatively gradually ... no DOMS.

And that's the way I like it.

For me, DOMS means I've let myself become unfit.

nakedraygun wrote: »

I'm on training break until next week and I will be starting again with a strong hypertrophy component to my program.

I expect my suffering will be legendary, even in hell.

But I'm kinda looking forward to it.

Best of luck with your new routine.