Should You Feel Sore After Every Workout?

When it comes to working out, there’s a popular question: should you feel sore after every workout. It’s a good question with lots of confusing answers going around. Many people believe that if we're not feeling sore, we're not pushing ourselves hard enough. You know “no pain, no gain” right?

You know that feeling when your muscles are all like, "Uh, what did you do to us?!" Yeah, that one.

But is this really true?

Being sore is a pretty common pain for many of us, especially when we're starting out with a new exercise routine or trying a new type of workout. But here's the thing: soreness isn't necessarily a bad thing! In fact, it's a sign that your muscles are getting stronger.

But, let's be real, soreness can be pretty uncomfortable. It can make it hard to move around, and even harder to get out of bed in the morning, going upstairs and even using the restroom, especially after leg day!

And there is a point when being too sore that you can barely function can be a bit discouraging. It will make you think "Why am I even doing this if it's just going to hurt?"

But the benefits of exercise far outweigh the temporary discomfort of soreness. And, there are ways to manage soreness, so you can keep on exercising without feeling like you're stuck in a cycle of pain.

Let’s talk about the world of soreness and exercise. Let’s talk about what causes soreness, how to manage it, and why it's actually a good thing (yes, you read that right!).

What is Soreness, Anyway?

Soreness - it's like the unwanted souvenir from your last workout. You know, that feeling when your muscles are all like, "Hey, I’m dying here!" Don't worry, it's a normal part of the exercise journey.

Soreness, or delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), is what happens when your muscles are pushed out of their comfort zone. When you go beyond your usual limits, your muscles and body are like "Whoa, I didn't know I could do that!”

If you think about it, being sore after a new workout is not too different in some ways to when you first start a new hobby or skill - your brain hurts from thinking so hard, right? Same thing with your muscles!

So, what's the deal with soreness and exercise?

Well, it's like this: when you work out, you're causing tiny micro-tears in your muscles. That sounds scary, but it's actually a good thing! When that happens, your muscles realize that they need to adapt to the new challenge and get stronger to handle it… and then they do.

It's like how your hands get calluses from lifting heavy barbells - your muscles are just getting tougher too. And that's how you get stronger and more toned. It's basically a little present from your muscles to you, saying, "Hey, thanks for pushing me!"

Now, to be clear, too much soreness can be a sign that you need to dial it back a bit. But a little bit of soreness? That's just your muscles working hard, and that's something to be proud of!

So, don't be afraid of soreness - embrace it!

Being sore it's like a badge of honor, showing that you're pushing yourself and getting stronger. And if it gets too intense, just take a rest day or try some stretching or foam rolling. Your muscles will appreciate the love!

The Pros of Being Sore

Soreness gets a bad rep, but it's actually a sign that your body is getting stronger!

When you exercise, you're causing tiny micro-tears in your muscles, which is good thing because your muscles will health and grow stronger.

Soreness also means that your body is adapting to the demands you're putting on it.

When you're new to exercise or trying a new type of workout, your muscles are pushed to the limit, sometimes to the point of failure. But as you keep at it, they start to adapt and get stronger. That's why soreness often decreases as you get more consistent with your workouts. And that's a great feeling!

So, even though soreness can be uncomfortable, it's a sign that your body is changing, adapting, and getting stronger.

So, don't be afraid of soreness because it's a sign that you're challenging yourself and getting results. And remember, soreness is temporary, but the benefits of exercise last a lifetime. You'll be stronger, more confident, and feeling amazing in no time.

The Cons of Being Sore

Okay, let's get real - soreness can be a total bummer! It can make it hard to move around, and even harder to get out of bed in the morning. It's not the most fun feeling in the world.

But, here's the thing - soreness is a normal part of the exercise journey, especially when you're starting out or trying something new. Being too sore is your body's way of saying you need slow down, because it needs a minute to catch up!

Soreness can also make it hard to stick with your workout routine. When you're feeling sore, the last thing you want to do is get back out there and exercise again. But, actually, exercise is one of the best ways to reduce soreness!

If you are too sore to do your normal workouts, then you can do something less demanding like walking or cross training. Movement that helps blood flow in your body and muscles is one of the best ways to deal with being too sore.

Even though it might be hard to get motivated to workout when you're feeling sore, it's important to keep at it. Your body will tell you "Hey, let’s keep going! I'm strong and I can handle this!"

Obviously, too much soreness can be a sign that you need to dial it back a bit. If you're feeling like you can't move, or like you're in serious pain, that's not good! It's important to listen to your body and take rest days when you need them.

But, in general, soreness is just a normal part of the exercise journey, and it's not a reason to give up. On the contrary, it’s a sign to keep moving forward.

The Myth of Soreness as a Benchmark

We've all been there - waking up the morning after a tough workout, feeling like we've been hit by a truck. And sometimes, we make the mistake of using that soreness as a benchmark for how good our workout was.

We think that if we're not feeling sore, we must not have worked hard enough, right?

Nope!

Soreness isn't always a sign of a good workout. In fact, research shows that soreness isn't even a great indicator of muscle growth or strength gain.

Let's stop using soreness as a benchmark for our workouts and start focusing on other things... like how we feel, or how our performance is improving.

Soreness is just a sign of inflammation, and that's not always a good thing.

Yeah, sometimes being sore is a sign that our muscles are adapting and getting stronger, but other times, especially if we are too sore to function normally in our day-to-day life, it's just a sign that we overdid it.

If we're using soreness as a benchmark, we might be pushing ourselves too hard, too fast. And that can lead to injury, or burnout.

So, let's take a step back, and focus on listening to our bodies. If we're feeling good, and our performance is improving, that's what matters - not how sore we are.

Let's ditch the idea that soreness is the only way to know if we had a good workout. Instead, let's focus on how we feel, and how our bodies are performing.

Are we getting stronger?

Are we feeling more confident?

Are we enjoying our workouts?

Those are the things that matter, not how sore we are. So, let's take the focus off soreness, and put it on progress, performance, and how we feel. Our bodies will thank us, and we'll be more likely to stick with our workout routine in the long run.

Listen to Your Body

When we exercise, it's important to remember that our bodies are smart. They know what they can handle, and they know when they need a break. So, instead of pushing ourselves to the point of soreness, let's start listening to our bodies.

If we're feeling tired or fatigued, let's take a rest day. If we're feeling pain or discomfort, let's stop and modify the exercise. Our bodies are trying to tell us something, and it's time we start listening.

Listening to our bodies means paying attention to how we feel, not just how sore we are.

It means noticing when we're feeling strong and capable, and when we're feeling weak and tired.

It means honoring our limitations, and not pushing ourselves too hard.

It means being kind to ourselves, and not beating ourselves up over a missed workout or a tough day.

When we listen to our bodies, we start to develop a more positive relationship with exercise, and that's when the magic happens.

Let's ditch the idea that we need to be sore to know if we had a good workout. Let's stop using soreness as a benchmark and start using our bodies as our guide. Let's listen to our intuition and honor our needs.

When we listen and pay attention, we'll start to feel more connected to our bodies, and more empowered in our exercise routine.

We'll start to see exercise as a way to nourish our bodies, not just a way to punish them. And that's when we'll start to see real progress, and real results.

Alternatives to Soreness

If soreness isn't the best way to measure a good workout, what is it then?

Well, one alternative is to focus on progress. Are you getting stronger? Can you do more reps or sets than you could last week? Are you lifting heavier weights? That's progress, baby! And that's what matters.

Another alternative is to focus on how you feel. Do you have more energy? Are you sleeping better? Do you feel more confident and capable? That's the stuff that matters, not how sore you are.

Another alternative to soreness is to focus on performance. Can you run faster or longer than you could before? Can you do more push-ups or squats? Are you improving your skills and techniques? That's what is important.

And finally, let's not forget about consistency. Are you showing up to your workouts regularly? Are you making exercise a priority in your life? Consistent work over time is the way to achieve long lasting results.

So, let's start focusing on these alternatives to soreness.

Let's celebrate our progress, no matter how small. Let's honor our bodies and how they feel. Let's strive for performance and consistency.

And let's remember, exercise is supposed to be fun! It's supposed to make us feel good, not just sore. So, let's start feeling good, and forget about the soreness.

It's time to shift our mindset around exercise. It's time to stop using soreness as the only benchmark for a good workout.

Let's start exercising in a way that feels good, not just sore.

Should you feel sore after every workout?

The short answer is no. Soreness is not the only benchmark for a good workout. While it's common to feel a bit sore after exercise, it's not the only way to measure progress or success.

Focus instead on progress, performance, consistency, and how you feel. This will help you cultivate a healthier and more positive relationship with exercise. Shift your mindset and start celebrating your progress, no matter how small it may seem.

Remember, exercise is supposed to help us feel good and improve our quality of life.

Exercise is supposed to nourish our bodies and souls. By listening to our bodies and honoring their needs, we can start to see exercise as a way to care for ourselves, rather than a way to push ourselves to the limit.

Your body is smart, and it knows what it needs. So, start listening to it, and start exercising in a way that helps you achieve your health and fitness goals.