How the heck do you guys do it?!?

AReasor
AReasor Posts: 355 Member
edited November 12 in Fitness and Exercise
I see people working out 5-6 days a week. I work out Mon, Weds, and Friday. The soreness is too much on the off days.

So again, how the heck do you guys do it?!?!???
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Replies

  • ieva012
    ieva012 Posts: 18
    the pain will go away soon :)
  • seekingstrengthX2
    seekingstrengthX2 Posts: 771
    Plow through the soreness! :)
    Really, though.... if my trainer puts me through a horrific leg workout, hitting the gym the next day and doing the elliptical for an hour actually HELPS. It stretches out the legs. Just power through. You'll be surprised!
  • auticus
    auticus Posts: 1,051 Member
    Stretching, knowing the difference between pain and injury, etc...

    How bad do you want it?
  • lts42uk
    lts42uk Posts: 162 Member
    I find that when I'm sore that if I keep at it then the soreness goes away! I've never missed a day due to sore muscles!
  • wtp2000
    wtp2000 Posts: 10 Member
    I was wondering the same thing. I do a Wii Personal Trainer video and walk sometimes over my lunch hour. But, being a single parent with a full-time job, I just don't know how to find the extra hours in a day to be exercising all the time. I'm already getting up at 5-5:30 every morning just to get ready for work and my daughter up & ready to be on the school bus by 7:00. I have time on the weekends, but then I'm only exercising 2 days a week. Ugh! I agree about the sore muscles, depending on the work-out I can barely move the following day. lol! :smile:
  • trlrnrgrl
    trlrnrgrl Posts: 80
    Is exercise something that is still fairly new to your routine? It's normal to be sore for a short while when you're first starting to exercise. But if you've been at it a while, you shouldn't be so sore that you can't exercise more than 3 days/wk. If it's something that's still a little new, don't worry - the soreness will go away as your body adjusts and you'll be able to add on more days. In the meantime, on those in between days, you can try going on a walk. That'll allow you to stay active but without being too hard on sore muscles. In fact, sometimes walking can help work out some of the soreness.
  • AnneGenevieveS
    AnneGenevieveS Posts: 441 Member
    you push through it and it goes away :)

    It will get better and easier for you too as you keep it up. Good job working out 3 days per week!
  • crysmcd1
    crysmcd1 Posts: 54
    you push through the soreness and keep moving on. you work different parts of the body harder, let your "sore" spots have a minimal rest time... i typically work out 6 days a week, this week was 5 because of a busy saturday... been doing it this way for 8 weeks and its getting better with each week. good luck!
  • mcorange01
    mcorange01 Posts: 33 Member
    I struggled with it to. I do the Wii Fitness Plus and added more Yoga to my routine, that helped with the stretching. Somehow you just find a way through it. I work out everyday now.
  • emfilomena
    emfilomena Posts: 120
    Stretching, and pure determination helps me work through the pain. The results keep me coming back for more :happy:
  • MelissaGraham7
    MelissaGraham7 Posts: 406 Member
    working out different muscles different days...cross training....and days off when needed. Actually, after a workout that causes "soreness" a less intense workout the next day of even a walk of yoga or something will actually release the lactic acid buildup in the muscles that causes the soreness. So, sometimes when you are sore is when you need to go ahead and do a workout the next day, just make it a less intense workout or even take a walk or short run, etc.
  • HauteP1nk
    HauteP1nk Posts: 2,139 Member
    I am sure your body will eventually adjust.

    I work through any pain I have - unless it is an unnatural pain that is caused from an injury. Our joints actually begin to feel better when they are being worked out.

    Are you doing too much exercise? Try to remember to work smarter not harder. Don't over do it, and don't exercise to the point of pain.

    That being said, are you stretching before/after a workout?
    Are you drinking enough water? Water is essential to hydrating your body - especially your joints and muscles!!

    Soak in a nice hot bath of Epsom salt a couple of times a week. See a massage therapist.
    Ensure you are wearing the appropriate shoes...if you are running ensure you are wearing running shoes. If you are cross training then wear cross trainers. Best bet is to get fitted for a supportive shoe too...it will eas the pain on your joints/muscles.
  • seekingstrengthX2
    seekingstrengthX2 Posts: 771
    I was wondering the same thing. I do a Wii Personal Trainer video and walk sometimes over my lunch hour. But, being a single parent with a full-time job, I just don't know how to find the extra hours in a day to be exercising all the time. I'm already getting up at 5-5:30 every morning just to get ready for work and my daughter up & ready to be on the school bus by 7:00. I have time on the weekends, but then I'm only exercising 2 days a week. Ugh! I agree about the sore muscles, depending on the work-out I can barely move the following day. lol! :smile:


    What about in the evening? Do you have a gym that offers childcare?
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Alternate cardio & strength to allow sufficient recovery time between workouts and make sure you take your rest days (at least 1 per week - some people will do no exercise others will do some really low intensity cardio like walking, over time you'll find what works bets for you)
  • oouurr__aayylleeyycan
    oouurr__aayylleeyycan Posts: 149
    Try protein after you've worked out - it's not a miracle cure but it does help with muscle recovery.
  • AReasor
    AReasor Posts: 355 Member
    I was really incredibly weak when I started. I had an appendectomy go bad and was ill for 8 months. I kept thinking that I needed to build the muscles, the soreness would go away(I push and hard during workouts and its not) and I could do more. I am getting stronger and want to push through. I was worried about injury.

    Man, I wish I had access to a treadmill or an elliptical. That seems like it would stretch things out a bit.
  • cdl8
    cdl8 Posts: 164 Member
    The pain and soreness goes away throughout my workouts. Learn to love what you are doing!!!
  • JustLindaLou
    JustLindaLou Posts: 376 Member
    When I got back to exercising, I was just trying to walk 20-30 minutes at the park. I was SO sore I could not believe it, just from walking. Very discouraging, when I used to walk 4-6 miles a day, every day!

    I switched to doing Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home videos, and I am able to do them with minimal soreness - I am sweating and breathing hard! I think for me the difference is I am exercising on carpet now instead of concrete, less impact on the joints. Also, she does a very nice stretch at the end, and sometimes I do the stretch 2x because it feels so good!

    Also cleaning up my diet more and more I believe makes a huge difference - you have to stay hydrated to help flush the lactic acid out of your muscles, and be sure you are giving your body nutrients, not just calories. Lots of anitoxidant-rich foods and lean protein to help build the coveted fat-burning muscle!

    I look forward to adding more challenging exercise as I progress, and I know it will probably mean some soreness, but I will continue to do as much stretching as I can and hopefully combat the soreness and increase my flexibility and core strength!
  • AReasor
    AReasor Posts: 355 Member
    Also, I work out at home. Outside is snowy is incredibly cold. I think I will start alternating strength and cardio when I can get out of house. I do have a protein bar after I workout(I make it a point to over on protein).

    Right now I am doing workout videos and (I wish I knew what the name for it) a list of exercises(pushups, crunches, jumping jacks, wall sits) that keep my heart going.
  • Guardien
    Guardien Posts: 109 Member
    Don't try to do too much too soon. Let your body get used to the exercise. If the 3 days per week you are doing now is lifting, and that is why you are sore, just go with some walking or light jogging for 2 or 3 of the other days. That is how I get exercise in 6 days a week: 3 lifting with some cardio, 2-3 days cardio only, 1-2 days rest each week. Good luck as you continue to build your new body. We are all here to support each other.
  • muzmacol
    muzmacol Posts: 358 Member
    I had running gait assessment and bought appropriate trainers. Made a massive difference.
  • Deyoge
    Deyoge Posts: 7
    I wait until the soreness goes away. If that means 4 days of rest then I take 4 days. I take the advice I get from a competitive bodybuilder and he knows his stuff. Eventually the soreness will become less sore as your muscles become stronger and the recovery time will be shorter and you will be able to push through the workouts harder and do more than you could the time before.
  • AReasor
    AReasor Posts: 355 Member
    Thanks LindaLou, I saw those videos and that may be a great choice to have as my main source of cardio. It is hard to explain to people that you are too out of shape to do a lot of exercises. But I want this bad enough to get through it.

    Thank you for the great answers, everyone! It amazes me how awesomely helpful everyone is on these boards.
  • LisaMariaCallow
    LisaMariaCallow Posts: 170
    You just do it!! I work out 5-6 days a week, and personally love the feeling I get from working out, both mentally & physically. Plus, an added bonus is when you work out you can have an occasional "cheat day" and have some wiggle room calorie-wise.
  • yaddayaddayadda
    yaddayaddayadda Posts: 430 Member
    I would suggest that you do yoga. You can work your way into a very rigorous work out. The stretching helps with soreness. Keep at it. The more often the better. You can do it. Friend me if you would like my support:laugh:
  • porffor
    porffor Posts: 1,210 Member
    My tip would be find something short - Kettleworx is highly rated, along with 30 Day Shred - 20 - 25 mins work out time is not a lot and can be done at home.

    Re the pain of muscle aching for good reasons, I push through and ignore it, only hard times are walking stairs and hills at Uni (in the Welsh valleys) where I find my legs wobbled around a bit for the first few days of 30 Day shred but settled after that.

    I can see / feel strength I didn't have before and that motivates me... I keep a diary on my computer too where I write down what I've done, how I felt about it and where I can improve or saw improvements. Along with all my measurements. I find it really helps as motivation if I feel nothing is changing.

    Good luck! You can do it!
  • MenaMena
    MenaMena Posts: 232 Member
    I started this in December at 323 pounds and although I am on my feet most of the day at work beyond that no exercise. I made a plan to do at least 30 minutes of aerobics 6 days and week and lift weights 3 days a week. I expected it to be difficult and it was/is but once I put a goal in writing it is pretty much a done deal. Just stubborn that way.

    The first day, I thought I would have to dial 911 for assistance. I wondered if perhaps, I had set my goals too high but I survived and didn't have to call. I was stiff and achy the next day and learned the value of stretching and water and IcyHot :wink: . Each day it got it a little easier and I began to realize that if I get push through the pain there is a "groove" on the other side that is addicting. I don't know how to describe it but you push hard and then there is this place where you feel like you can walk, run, dance forever.

    Today, no matter what else is happening, I will find a way to move, to get to that place and hit that groove. Any pain that I may endure is out weighed by the sense of pride I feel in what I have accomplished.

    I am 53 years old and I have finally decided to put me on my list of goals. How do I do it? Really, how can I not. I am so worth the pain.
  • AReasor
    AReasor Posts: 355 Member
    Thanks for the advice Menamena! I really do enjoy working out. Love the challenge. From everyone's posts, I think what is going to help me the most is figuring out a more harmonious schedule of working out. Balance my cardio and strength training better.

    And most of all, JUST KEEP AT IT!
  • BIGJIMMYU
    BIGJIMMYU Posts: 1,221 Member
    Try protein after you've worked out - it's not a miracle cure but it does help with muscle recovery.
    This works for sure. It will cut my soreness back 50-75% easy! Especially if you get the protein in your system within 40 minutes post workout. Beef jerky, protein shake, can of tuna, handful of almonds or whatever.
  • nkosky
    nkosky Posts: 115 Member
    I would suggest that you do yoga. You can work your way into a very rigorous work out. The stretching helps with soreness. Keep at it. The more often the better. You can do it. Friend me if you would like my support:laugh:

    I agree!! I started doing Yoga to help with the soreness and for stretching!! Works wonders!!
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