Lack of Soreness After a Workout
Hi Jari,
I have a question that I don't think anybody has asked on this board. I consider myself to be very fit and an advanced exerciser. I am always trying to change things up in my workout to keep my muscles guessing so I don't plateau and adapt to a routine. My question is this: when I change up my workouts, either a new workout DVD or my current one-body-part-per-week heavy weights rotation, I really don't feel the muscle soreness after a workout that a lot of others on here talk about. I feel a lactic acid "burn" for a few hours after the workout, but no true soreness the day after. I did a heavy chest and triceps workout last week and was using 20's in each hand for the chest press on a step bench and didn't have a sore chest the next day. I was doing tricep overhead extensions with a 20 pound weight and felt a little bit of soreness the next day, but by the second and third times I did the workout, no soreness. I did a heavy rotation of Legs, Chest & Triceps, and Back, Shoulders & Biceps. I did each workout (body part) once per week with a day in between. I did this rotation for a month and have now switched things up to a slow and heavy rotation of Legs & Shoulders, Biceps & Triceps, and Chest & Back, again, same format of one body part per week with a day off in between each workout. I was even doing my lunges and squats with 50 pounds and didn't have sore legs the day after. What's your take on this? Thanks so much!
I have a question that I don't think anybody has asked on this board. I consider myself to be very fit and an advanced exerciser. I am always trying to change things up in my workout to keep my muscles guessing so I don't plateau and adapt to a routine. My question is this: when I change up my workouts, either a new workout DVD or my current one-body-part-per-week heavy weights rotation, I really don't feel the muscle soreness after a workout that a lot of others on here talk about. I feel a lactic acid "burn" for a few hours after the workout, but no true soreness the day after. I did a heavy chest and triceps workout last week and was using 20's in each hand for the chest press on a step bench and didn't have a sore chest the next day. I was doing tricep overhead extensions with a 20 pound weight and felt a little bit of soreness the next day, but by the second and third times I did the workout, no soreness. I did a heavy rotation of Legs, Chest & Triceps, and Back, Shoulders & Biceps. I did each workout (body part) once per week with a day in between. I did this rotation for a month and have now switched things up to a slow and heavy rotation of Legs & Shoulders, Biceps & Triceps, and Chest & Back, again, same format of one body part per week with a day off in between each workout. I was even doing my lunges and squats with 50 pounds and didn't have sore legs the day after. What's your take on this? Thanks so much!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jari Love on -
Hi Amanda,
Basically, the soreness we feel is from the muscle tearing and repairing that occurs after a workout. Lots of people get sore when they do a particular exercise with a moderate to heavy weight or if they try something new for the first time. However, not everyone gets sore and that's ok! It doesn't mean you aren't getting a good workout.
The best way to track your progress is not about how sore you are but by your actual progress. I really recommend using a training journal. Make your goal each day to to improve on your last efforts. It's another great idea to take measurements every 4-6 weeks and see where you are losing/gaining. For example, if you can do 20 reps of shoulder press with a 20lb weight on one day, see if you can do 25 reps the next time you do your upper body workout. Or see if you can do the same 20 reps but with a heavier weight.
Hope this helps!
Jari
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