Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is familiar to both elite athletes and us newbie fitness entrepreneurs.
I use the word entrepreneur because so often we forget elite athletes are in the business of fit for wealth, and we are too! Irrespective of the nature of our income stream, unless we are physically fit we will under perform at work and life.
We all have felt the cost of returning to health after a serious illness. Therefore, not only is it in our interest to exercise, it pays to prevent the onset of muscle dilapidation, through lack of physical exertion.
What is DOMS?
DOMS is the muscle pain that begins after you’ve worked out. It usually starts about 12 to 24 hours after exercise. DOMS is not something that you would feel during a workout.
Pain felt during or immediately after a workout is a different kind of muscle soreness. It feels like a burning sensation due to the quick build-up of lactic acid in the muscles. It usually disappears as soon or shortly after you stop exercising.
DOMS is the sensation of the body repairing muscles used during a workout so that next time it is better able to exercise – without pain.
What to expect from DOMS
Please don’t be alarmed by the pain caused by DOMS, it’s the body’s way of thanking you for the opportunity to get stronger, and now it’s your time to relax and recover.
With DOMS, you may experience some or all of the following:
- Muscles that feel tender to touch
- Reduced range of motion due to pain and stiffness when moving
- Muscle fatigue
- Short-term loss of muscle strength
Is DOMS a sign of a ‘good’ workout?
We may be tempted to think that unless we feel super sore after every workout, we are not making any fitness gains, but this is not true.
When we start a new exercise routine or push our limits, we will be more likely to get sore. However, as we continue to exercise our body adapts, and we become more efficient at “bodybuilding.”
Regenerating muscle mass later in life is extremely difficult, therefore maintaining what we have to build on is essential.
The fitness WELLth program changes every week. There will be weeks where you will struggle through your program and others will feel “easy” it is precisely these peaks and lulls that prepares us for living life well with fitness.
If you would like to experience a fitness WELLth program join our email list and I will send you your first 9-minute workout the link is below for you.
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