Do you have to ache ?

[newbie123]

Me and my friend always debate about whether aching or not aching. My argument was...........If your muscles dont ache the next day it means that you have not worked your muscles fully.
My friend says 'the muscle dont have to ache for a good work out'

Me and him aims is to build mass, so does aching muscles mean that is when proper growth is happening.

Any thoughts

ps I hope I'm right

[Shibby]

Aching can be seen as a form of overtraining or underconditioned muscles. I rarely ache after a workout. Sure when I stretch I can fill it "ache" a little more than usual, crystalized something (what I'm trying to say has drawn a blank). But no you don't have to ache to know you got a good work out.

[Unregistered]

Yea, i think if your aching without movement or stretching of some sort i think that your muscles are under trained or overtrained. There are some instances where my legs have been over trained, purposely, like doing a strip set but this is about every 2-3 months just to throw something diff. in the mix. But for the most part, try not to ache too much all the time. Also, check ur diet if your muscles arent recovering correctly.

[meat12]

Sounds like your overworking yourself, after you are a little more well trained you shouldn't really get your self to that point. Yeah when you try something new you may be sore, but you really shouldn't be to the point of aching pain. More is'nt always better, be careful and try not to overwork yourself.

Remember you are not competing against anyone, who cares if your buddy can lift more than you. Thats how people get hurt and overtrain themselves. So i wouldn't really even worry about if your soar or not the following day. If it feels like a good workout at the time you should be fine.

[babylon]

i dont bout u guys, but i get sore every time, chest sore as hell, legs, back, only thing that rarely gets sore is biceps and triceps and traps. . over-train doesnt = bad does it??

[bad14u]

Hit the gym more than once a week!!!

[imonboardtoo]

I'm confused too. Talked to some big guys who have always said if you're not feelin it next day or 2 days later, you didn't work it hard enough - specially legs and chest. You guys sayin that good soreness I get second day isn't good at all?

[helix139]

I work one body part a week and this is supposed to limit overtraining. And I do get sore on every part! I can tell how good a workout was by how sore I am 2 days afterwards.

[jdawg]

when you aren't getting sore anymore, then you aren't tricking your muscles into new growth. the majority of the time getting sore is a good indicator of a good workout and tricking your muscles into growth. this is unless you have trained for like 15 years, i read that the pros don't really get sore any more, because there isn't anything they can do to trick their muscles after 15 years of training.

[newbie123]

So which is it guys ????????
So if your a newbie like (5 months training) and your muscles ache after a work out the next day does its mean a good work out ?

Some say this some say that...........

[Dinatos8282]

How long have you been working out? How often do you work out? What does your routine look like (exercisis/sets/reps)? Do you have a routine?

I am sure that everyone has gotten sore when they are just starting or heading back to the gym after a long break, but on average I think the majority of us are not in tremendous pain after workouts. Rating soreness is kinda tricky. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being unbarable, what would you rate it?

I can agree with the stretching. The next day after an excellent workout I might be a little tight and have a tad of soreness when doing range of motion or stretching. I think that is a sign of a good workout. Your muscles get use to it. They also get more efficient on repairing damage to muscles and adding actin/protein to compensate for increased loads.

Like what was said before, take it easy, no reason to compete. Not being able to put your shirt over your head the next day is NOT that cool! Over time you should notice you get less and less sore. This does not mean you are getting less of a workout.

[lordikon]

If you have a good workout routine, and are still having sore issues. Make sure you're getting enough water, minimum 80ozs./day, and potassium.

I don't think you should be sore as long as you're able to finish your last set. Also, make sure to stretch between reps and/or after your set, this should help a little bit. Just my 2 cents.

[Chris]

Whoa, whoa, I have heard both side of this argument also. I thought that if you are someone who is more like a endomorph, then its good to ache cause it is hard for you to overtain.

Also, what do you mean by sore? I would say I get sore, but I'm not in pain, and it doesn't hurt to pick shit up. I just feel the muslce more when its working esp. streching it or contracting it.

Chris

[imonboardtoo]

I'm with Chris. That kinda sore always feels good to me. Not hurting, just feeling the muscle.

[babylon]

i get angry at myself if im not sore the following day, liek i didnt train hard enough

[Dinatos8282]

sore = ache, same thing?? I thought he was talking about the same thing. I did not say it was bad to be sore. I am sore right now, but if he can barely move or whatever then it is a little extensive. That is why I was wondering if he could rate it. One persons normal soreness could be intollerable to someone else.

But anyways, I agree with the hydration also.

[danny p]

no pain no gain.

[Danny_v]

Feel the pain see the gain :-)