Beginners' Morning After Pain

[qbass]

Hi all. I just started my first challenge yesterday, so am pretty sore after yesterday's upper workout. I am wondering if the persistent muscle soreness can be lessened by giving my body supplementation of something that my muscles want/need, or if I just need to stretch more, or...? I'm not asking about pain relievers; I just wonder if my muscle soreness is a sign that I'm not giving them something they need for recuperation.

Just imagining the days of soreness in my legs following tomorrow's lower workout has me a bit freaked out, as I know there is no way I could walk on my hands after yesterday's session.

[Wonderboy]

you could try to take some extra magnesium

greets

[Maljonic]

Stretching is a good idea. You can also take post-workout suppliments like protien shakes to speed up recovery. Having said that soreness is a good thing, so long as you don't crippple yourself, because it means you tore your muscles and they will get bigger when they repair themselves.

[Joel]

Maljonic is right. The pain is from tearing of the muscle fibers. This is a good thing. To aid in recovery you can check out supplements like EAS - Betagen which is creatine that contains HMB, glutamine and taurine.

[qbass]

Thanks, guys. I found a bit of extra care taken in my stretching routine seems to do the trick for now. I think I'll be ready for my second upper workout tomorrow morning with no difficulties now. This morning's cardio went great after a conscious effort was made to get properly stretched first. It seems this important aspect of physical fitness should have had a more prominent place in Bill's books. It was mentioned, but didn't seem to get the push into my mind that it should have from reading them.

I had considered using creatine (and Betagen in particular) for accelerated muscle recuperation, but decided to wait until my second challenge to incorporate that. I'm trying for serious fat burning at the moment and don't want to get into the extra caloric intake before or directly after my workouts. I will endure the soreness that persists and let it constantly remind me that I am alive and becoming more alive by the day!

[cooper]

I know how you feel. I was sore from my workouts, but my first lower body workout had me limping around. I think I did too much, but it's okay now.

[Lupat]

I'm starting week 5 on the BFL program and I can say that the first 2 weeks are when you really the toughest - because you are continually sore. My muscles were not used to such extreme workouts. But once you pass week two... your body sort of gets used to it and a lot of the soreness passes.

I didn't take any supplements but did Myoplex shakes in the morning after workouts.

[tripod]

Tough it out, it will eventually get to the point where you might actually be complaining that you're not feeling sore enough, I know I did.

Having said that, when I got to the point where I no longer felt the soreness, I would actually worry that maybe it's because my muscles are getting too used to the routine and that it was a sign that it was time to change it up.