I'm always sore!

I've worked out at least 5 days last week. Cross-country skiing for the first time, biking, elliptical...I'm beat. Could barely walk and stand at work today.

I'm female, weigh 263lbs. and feel like I may be out of my league with working out so hard the last few days.

Am I over doing it?

Mon. Feb 25, 8:22pm

When I started working out regularly I was always sore too!! But after a couple of weeks of doing it I became less and less sore. If your using muscle you haven't used in a while it will likely be screaming back at you after a killer workout. Stick with it and it will pass it is normal. Try eating some bananas or taking some glucosamine to help recover quicker. Make sure your giving yourself enough rest in between your workouts to recover, you will be supprised at how much strength you will gain the next time you workout with proper rest.

Monday, February 25, 2008, 8:54 PM

Yes, you are overdoing. This is the difference between a lifestyle change and a fleeting fling with fitness.

I'm not saying this to be cruel, but I've walked in your shoes so I *know* that physical activity is really uncomfortable when you're carrying an extra 100 pounds. Even walking creates more aches than you'll ever admit out loud to the people in your life (or even yourself) because it's embarrassing, and there's the guilty feeling that you deserve to suffer for letting yourself get into your current state.

Take it easy, or at least easier. Avoid high impact options until you're within 40 lbs of your ideal weight or else you run a greater risk of stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, torn ligaments, and other injuries that will interfere with your progress. Don't run out and do a new, challenging activity like cross-country skiing for 3 hours - you're asking for problems. Work out every other day, and make sure you stretch afterwards. Find things that you enjoy doing. Don't make yourself miserable or else you'll give up, and that's just not an option you want to contemplate.

Monday, February 25, 2008, 11:36 PM

Absolutely agree with 11:36 but I wanted to add this. There is a learning curve to getting fit and getting healthy. You learned some of your limits which is fabulous ....really ...good for you!!!!

I would go for slight soreness every other or 3rd day with regular (daily?) activity. That way you will know you are in an improvement cycle. By slight soreness, I mean you feel your muscles, you know they are there. They are not screaming at you. A warm bath before you go to bed would feel good. That's what you want to shoot for. It's not a bad feeling...it's "hello muscles."

OP you are setting out on a great adventure and you will learn something new on a regular basis. Just adjust your routine and you will be in better shape before you know it.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 9:45 AM

Add more protein to your diet and calcium suppliments. This helps soreness.Drink a protein shake right after you work out with at least 20 grams of protein. You are tearing your muscles ans they are not getting a chance to heal.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 4:42 PM

Sounds like you jumped head first in to excercising....Enjoy it! Take it easy and do what you feel is comfortable for you.

Make sure to stretch before and after. I started off at 243 and I learned very quickly my body hurt a lot less with stretching.

Something that helped me out as well was making little goals. Setting small steps to take so you don't burn out. That way you are making a lifestyle change instead of a temporary fix.

Good Luck!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 5:47 PM

try some yoga or pilates, may make you more limber.

-diet coke

Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 1:09 PM

OP here... thank you all for your advice. I knew I was overdoing it but now will have it under control. I think all of your suggestions are spot on!

Thursday, February 28, 2008, 1:04 PM

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