why is it taking longer for me to GET sore after working out?

Jul 10, 2007
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if i worked out hard, i would usually feel it the very next morning. it's been this way my whole life.

i'm in my early-mid 20's now, and instead of feeling sore the next day, it's the day after.

is this due to getting older? :(
 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
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Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
if i worked out hard, i would usually feel it the very next morning. it's been this way my whole life.

i'm in my early-mid 20's now, and instead of feeling sore the next day, it's the day after.

is this due to getting older? :(
If you work out regularly you shouldn't get sore at all. The only time I get sore these days, at least in my muscles, is when I take a week or two off.
 
Mar 22, 2002
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Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
if i worked out hard, i would usually feel it the very next morning. it's been this way my whole life.

i'm in my early-mid 20's now, and instead of feeling sore the next day, it's the day after.

is this due to getting older? :(

Delayed onset muscle soreness. If you start lifting regularly (like 5 days a week), it'll lessen and potentially go away. I've always had what I call "the 2 day rule," where I gauge how miserable I'm going to be by the first day's soreness. Sometimes, it's a terrible foreshadowing of the pain to come :p
 

Slufa111

Senior member
Oct 13, 2002
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Not always true. I usually get sore when I do a weight I dont normally due. Squating 10x185 is much different than squating for 10x225
 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
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Originally posted by: Slufa111
Not always true. I usually get sore when I do a weight I dont normally due. Squating 10x185 is much different than squating for 10x225
You're right ,sometimes I switch up my routines/exercise and I get sore. In fact I did some negatives last week which I hadn't done in ages and I was slightly sore for about a day.

But the OP was talking about being sore every time and I don't think that's very common with most who train with weights.

 
Jul 10, 2007
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Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Originally posted by: Slufa111
Not always true. I usually get sore when I do a weight I dont normally due. Squating 10x185 is much different than squating for 10x225
You're right ,sometimes I switch up my routines/exercise and I get sore. In fact I did some negatives last week which I hadn't done in ages and I was slightly sore for about a day.

But the OP was talking about being sore every time and I don't think that's very common with most who train with weights.

i don't get sore every time. usually it's if i haven't lifted in a week or 2, or if i add a substantial amount of weight, or do an exercise i haven't done before.

i've also noticed the soreness last for 3-4 days instead of 2-3.
 

skace

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
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I've found that not getting a proper sleep can delay the soreness and also extend it's duration. Also not eating sufficiently can cause this as well. On average, at 26, if I have any soreness it occurs 2 days later though. For example, I really kicked my legs ass on Weds last week. My legs were weak and tired post workout, but significantly sore Friday and Saturday. Also, on average, during the week I get 4 hours of sleep a night instead of the recommended 8 hours. I don't do this on purpose, just how things work out.
 
Jul 10, 2007
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Originally posted by: skace
I've found that not getting a proper sleep can delay the soreness and also extend it's duration. Also not eating sufficiently can cause this as well. On average, at 26, if I have any soreness it occurs 2 days later though. For example, I really kicked my legs ass on Weds last week. My legs were weak and tired post workout, but significantly sore Friday and Saturday. Also, on average, during the week I get 4 hours of sleep a night instead of the recommended 8 hours. I don't do this on purpose, just how things work out.

now that you mention it, i haven't gotten a good night's sleep in awhile.
i'm not as bad as you, but i got 5-6 hours when i know i need 7-8 to feel refreshed.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
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it varies for me. my abs are usually sore for 2-3 days after i work them out. my shoulders NEVER get sore, it's weird. my chest ALWAYS is a little sore the day after but the worst at 2 days after. same goes for legs.

my back, bi's, and tri's are all weird with soreness. sometimes they are sore for days, sometimes they are not sore at all.
 

TecHNooB

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2005
7,458
1
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I find that lifting until failure will get you sore the next day. That or higher reps and less rest in between sets.
 

techs

Lifer
Sep 26, 2000
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Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
if i worked out hard, i would usually feel it the very next morning. it's been this way my whole life.

i'm in my early-mid 20's now, and instead of feeling sore the next day, it's the day after.

is this due to getting older? :(

The same thing happened to me, though it happened in my 30's

 

Cdubneeddeal

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2003
7,473
3
81
What I learned from my workout days, mix up your exercises. Most likely your muscles have memorized your routine, thus not getting sore. Instead of squats, do lunges. Instead of tricep pulldowns, do concentrated kickbacks. Etc.
 
Mar 22, 2002
10,483
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Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
What I learned from my workout days, mix up your exercises. Most likely your muscles have memorized your routine, thus not getting sore. Instead of squats, do lunges. Instead of tricep pulldowns, do concentrated kickbacks. Etc.

No, no. Always do squats. Mix the order and amount of sets up in your routine, but always do squats. They aren't substitutable. And a better suggestion for triceps would be skullcrushers. DB's are too time-consuming, if you're looking to get in and out of the gym. But what he says is true. I mix up my routine every 3-4 weeks, though I've heard it only takes 2-3 for your body to adapt. Just changing the order of your lifts can fix that whole memory thing, although you'll want to change your workout moderately every once in a while to make sure you're not plateau'ing.
 

techs

Lifer
Sep 26, 2000
28,559
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Oh, I should add this.
Its been my experience, and from what I have read, that if you are sore the best thing is not to skip a day, but do a very, very light workout.
From what I gather any exercise of a sore muscle will stimulate the removal of lactic acid, which from what I read is what causes muscle soreness.
 

RaiderJ

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2001
7,582
1
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Often times I'm more sore the 2nd day after than the 1st day. Might be an age thing (I'm 26), but probably more to do with how and what you're lifting.
 

thespeakerbox

Platinum Member
Nov 19, 2004
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Your body is used to it. Lifting harder and you'll be sore. Im hardly ever sore anymore. It's not detrimental, and I dont think its age related.
 

jiggahertz

Golden Member
Apr 7, 2005
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Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
if i worked out hard, i would usually feel it the very next morning. it's been this way my whole life.

i'm in my early-mid 20's now, and instead of feeling sore the next day, it's the day after.

is this due to getting older? :(
If you work out regularly you shouldn't get sore at all. The only time I get sore these days, at least in my muscles, is when I take a week or two off.

I'm pretty much always sore the 2nd day. DOMS varies from person to person. Some are never sore, some always and it isn't a good indicator of progress.
 

KoolDrew

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
10,226
7
81
What I learned from my workout days, mix up your exercises. Most likely your muscles have memorized your routine, thus not getting sore. Instead of squats, do lunges. Instead of tricep pulldowns, do concentrated kickbacks. Etc.

Being sore means one thing... you're sore. Nothing else. It's not an indicator of progress whatsoever. So there's definitely no need to change up your routine constantly trying to feel that "soreness."

I mix up my routine every 3-4 weeks, though I've heard it only takes 2-3 for your body to adapt. Just changing the order of your lifts can fix that whole memory thing, although you'll want to change your workout moderately every once in a while to make sure you're not plateau'ing.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
 

Slufa111

Senior member
Oct 13, 2002
813
0
0
Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged
Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
What I learned from my workout days, mix up your exercises. Most likely your muscles have memorized your routine, thus not getting sore. Instead of squats, do lunges. Instead of tricep pulldowns, do concentrated kickbacks. Etc.

No, no. Always do squats. Mix the order and amount of sets up in your routine, but always do squats. They aren't substitutable. And a better suggestion for triceps would be skullcrushers. DB's are too time-consuming, if you're looking to get in and out of the gym. But what he says is true. I mix up my routine every 3-4 weeks, though I've heard it only takes 2-3 for your body to adapt. Just changing the order of your lifts can fix that whole memory thing, although you'll want to change your workout moderately every once in a while to make sure you're not plateau'ing.

Wish we had a rep meter...because I would rep you.

people think you can do lunges or leg press instead of squats........nope........ squats / deadlifts are the best lifts you can do for overall size/mass
 
Mar 22, 2002
10,483
32
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Originally posted by: KoolDrew
What I learned from my workout days, mix up your exercises. Most likely your muscles have memorized your routine, thus not getting sore. Instead of squats, do lunges. Instead of tricep pulldowns, do concentrated kickbacks. Etc.

Being sore means one thing... you're sore. Nothing else. It's not an indicator of progress whatsoever. So there's definitely no need to change up your routine constantly trying to feel that "soreness."

I mix up my routine every 3-4 weeks, though I've heard it only takes 2-3 for your body to adapt. Just changing the order of your lifts can fix that whole memory thing, although you'll want to change your workout moderately every once in a while to make sure you're not plateau'ing.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Like I've said in other threads, I just wanna make sure :) My strength gains have continued to increase, so I'm gonna keep going this way. Hopefully it'll allow me to go like this for longer. I mean, I've put 60 pounds up on my squats. That makes me smiley :) Also, I'm not the one writing the workouts. The Max-OT routine has a plan for up to something like 6 months after this 13 week program. I doubt I'll do it that long, but it's nice to have that possibility.