Q:

I seem to get very sore after my working out, particully after lifting weights. I worked out on Monday, and I am still very sore today, which is Thursday. If I stretch after my workout it helps some. I realize I should be somewhat sore, but I seem to get more sore than other people and it seems to last longer. Is this due to my biology, or is there something I am doing wrong. What can I do to not be so sore? Should I eat differently, drink more water, stretch at different times???

 

A:

The most likely explanation for what you describe is doing "too much, too fast." I say that, of course, without knowing anything about your weight training history, or exactly what you are doing, or how fast you have been progressing your program.

In most cases, people who are starting out on an exercise program tend to overestimate their safe capabilities and move along in intensity and duration of exercise too fast, with resultant discomfort or even outright injury. When that happens one must institute recovery and rest until symptoms are resolved, and then reinstitute, much more gradually and starting at a much lower intensity, the exercise program. Listen to and feel the body's response to exercise, and plateau the increases immediately if discomfort starts. If discomfort persists, you should consult a physician about the problem.

If you are working out at a facility that has any training staff you could ask them to critique your program, and probably get some good insight that way.

~The Doc