Working out in and of itself is hard for most people who attempt to do it on a regular basis. We have the best of intentions when it comes to getting into the gym and getting a good workout but having consistent motivation to do so is where many of us fall short. At the same time, I am still intrigued by the fact that it is so much easier for our bodies to get used to not working out than working out in the first place.
No matter who you are, if you get on a roll and can get into the gym on a regular basis you will most definitely feel better about doing so. Unfortunately, life rears its ugly head and gums up the works from time to time. It can be as simple as a Spring Break, an injury or a common cold that has you out for a few days. For some reason when you return to the gym it sort of feels like you are physically starting over.
The next day or two following that “welcome back workout” will probably have you wondering why you workout in the first place with how sore you usually are. It can be very discouraging but the truth of the matter is that we ALL go through it. Now I am no scientist but it almost feels like once you take about a week off your body decides that the way that it was being stretched and stressed during your workouts is no longer necessary and it goes back into a shortened or tightened state. When you get back to your next training session and force your muscles to lengthen and stretch again your body fights back thus creating the soreness.
You may want to delay your return to the gym or even quit all together. Knock it off! We as coaches get it which is why we try to make your first time back in the gym a little easier. It doesn’t make much sense to come back from a layoff of any kind and try to jump right back in where you left off.
My advice that I have on how to deal with the soreness is to try to fight through the soreness and maybe even pop a few ibuprofen. Unfortunately, I cannot stop life from getting in the way of your workouts. But even when you are the most sore just remember that sexy hurts so don’t give up!
