Should muscles be sore after every workout? (soreness, build, burns)

[Brill]

If i wake up the next day and don't feel muscle soreness, did I not push it hard enough in my previous workout?

I've always had on and off streaks with working out, I'd go with it for a bit, then stop, then start again. Every time I started after a break, my muscles would be sore for a few days. If I kept up with it, I would notice less soreness a few weeks in. Is that because my muscles started to adjust, or do I need to push it harder?

[veuvegirl]

It's because your muscles are adjusting again. Pushing harder will only make you more sore!

[Bosco55David]

Originally Posted by Brill

If i wake up the next day and don't feel muscle soreness, did I not push it hard enough in my previous workout?

Yes, you should feel some soreness if you were really pushing yourself during a workout like you should be, however it should be tolerable soreness and should decrease as you spend more and more time at the gym.

If you're sore take an anti-inflammatory like Advil or ibuprofen. Also, be careful not to mistake soreness for an injury, and vice versa.

[eskercurve]

Yep, the soreness is normal after an especially hard workout. Try keeping it up and sustaining the workouts, as you said, your muscles are adjusting.

But don't push so hard all the time that they're always sore. That is not good for the body.

Do 1 rep of the heaviest you can do and then multiply by 1/2 and do 3 sets of 10 reps., that is what you should do if you want to build endurance. Multiply by 3/4 and do 3 sets 6-8 reps, and that is for strength building.

As always, though, listen to your body. If it quits on you, don't push it beyond that. Just stop.

[streetkings01]

Are you stretching enough? Alot of soreness could be due to lack of stretching.

[stan4]

No...once I get really into it, even when I increase the weights and really go nuts, I don't get sore after a while...talked to a couple of trainers who said that was normal.

[Jason28]

With soreness your body will eventually adapt and it will cease. If you are that in love with pain just constantly change your routines up to target different parts of the muscle. There are also ways to trick your muscle into growing more and getting through walls. Eventually though it will come down hard on your body in other ways such as hemheroids (spelling), torn ligaments, pulled muscles, fatigue, and irregular sleep patterns to name a few.

[CosmicWizard]

I don't think it's a matter of wether your muscles should or shouldn't be sore after each workout. It's more a matter of wether they ARE sore or NOT sore. Adjust your workout to leave your muscles feeling the way that you would like them to feel after a workout. Only you know what is best for your body. Trust your experience and make the opinion of everone else of secondary importance.

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by Brill

If i wake up the next day and don't feel muscle soreness, did I not push it hard enough in my previous workout?

I've always had on and off streaks with working out, I'd go with it for a bit, then stop, then start again. Every time I started after a break, my muscles would be sore for a few days. If I kept up with it, I would notice less soreness a few weeks in. Is that because my muscles started to adjust, or do I need to push it harder?

There is a distinct possibility that I'm exactly wrong, but I always felt that a lack of muscular soreness after a workout was good indication that I had not stressed myself enough to yield growth/progress.

[lola8822]

Originally Posted by jimboburnsy

There is a distinct possibility that I'm exactly wrong, but I always felt that a lack of muscular soreness after a workout was good indication that I had not stressed myself enough to yield growth/progress.

This is quite true; your muscles are pretty smart actually. They will adapt and conform to your routines, which is why the soreness goes away after repetition of the same routines. Switching up your routine will not only keep you feeling that good pain but it will also help your muscles and your body from achieving stagnation.