should i be sore?

[apache]

When i first started lifting i would sometimes be sore the next day, now i dont ever get sore anymore. Is that a good thing or does that mean im not working my muscles hard enough. I take glutamine before and after the work out, then i down a protein shake, and i always eat right. Soooo should the sorness be there or....? IF u guys need more info just let me know......

[Doughboy]

Soreness is actually a bad thing it means you were overworked. So, the phrase "no pain, no gain" is incorrect. Dont worry man your fine.

[apache]

exellent, thanks a bunch

[Killa_Z]

hmmm......... im not too sure about the 'no pain, no gain' phrase being absolutly wrong, of course it is unecessary but in some cases the aching can be a good thing:

in order for muscle growth you need to break the muscle fibres down and so during this catabolic stage as they are damaged its not suprising that they hurt, maybe your are doing it right and the glutmine and protein are acting as fast recovery aids and so your not feeling it, (this is my theory)

you could also be stuck on the same routine (same exercises, set x reps etc) for a whilenow and you have reached a plateu and now you must suprise your muscles into growing by shocking them with something new, try and switch it up and see how that works

[Adonis]

See your PM

the abnswer to his question is: both

[Killa_Z]

Originally Posted by Adonis

See your PM

the abnswer to his question is: both

im still unsure as to what the answer is, can i get that pm

[Old_Fart2]

There are different degrees of muscle sorenes, ranging from mild to barely being able to get out of your chair. When you first start working out or completely change your routine, you're subjecting your muscles to a different load than they're use to, thereby creating soreness. If you're too sore, you may have damaged the muscle.

But as your muscles adapt to the load, the soreness will decrease, which is natural. If you're sore after every workout, your muscles will never recover. That means by adapting, they're growing. But after awhile, they'll stop growing unless you change the stress that you place on them, either by more weight, changing the rep scheme, different exercises, etc.

[BuffforCU]

Me too Killa - not sure of the answer? Further on being sore - should you skip a scheduled workout if you are still sore from the last? To me, if you are still sore then your muscle has not completely recovered from the previosu workout, and is still repairing / building. Today (Monday) my chest still is sore from the great workout I had last Wednesday.

[Old_Fart2]

From T-Nation, written by Chad Waterbury:

Level I Soreness — This is the type of soreness that's only felt/realized if the given muscle group is maximally contracted. In other words, you don't feel the soreness unless you flex hard. Level I soreness should always be worked through. At this stage of soreness, supercompensation will occur.

Level II Soreness — This is the type of soreness that's felt all the time. In other words, if any flexion induces feelings of soreness, you're experiencing Level II. This type of soreness can be worked through, but only for one or two workouts. If it doesn't subside with your given program split, then allow for an extra day of rest between workouts.

Note: For some of my clients who spend their days protecting our country and sleeping with loaded Glocks, it's important to train the muscles to work through a state of Level II soreness. If you're merely trying to get big and strong, refer to my previous recommendation.

Level III Soreness — If you're often heard screaming and cursing while brushing your teeth, opening your car door, or just moving through everyday life, you have Level III soreness. This type of soreness causes pain sensations even when your clothes are rubbing against the muscle!

This type of soreness should never be worked through unless it's an extremely light, high repetition, active recovery exercise. In fact, active recovery is a must at this point. Just remember what you did to cause this type of soreness and don’t do it again!

So to recap, subsequent strength training workouts should be performed as follows with regard to soreness of the given muscle group:

Level I — Always

Level II — Sometimes

Level III — Never

Simple enough?

[BuffforCU]

Thanks for clearing that up Ol' Fart! Guess I don't have any excuse to skip my chest workout today.

[Old_Fart2]

Originally Posted by BuffforCU

Thanks for clearing that up Ol' Fart! Guess I don't have any excuse to skip my chest workout today.

Yeah, quit your whining and work out!

[Doughboy]

Nice post Old Fart so different levels of soreness mean different things.

[Adonis]

as your body adapts to stress' you may not get as much "soreness", but thats common. Soreness does not mean muscle growth,

[apache]

wow thanks for the replies guys, alright i got another question, i should prolly start another thread but ill just ask here. Its about shaking, i seem to shake a lot on sets and none on others. Manley on benching, does anyone know the cause of this?

[Doughboy]

Sounds to me like you are lifting too much if you are shaking.

[Old_Fart2]

I would suspect one of two things:

1. You're exerting maximum effort. When I did my final deadlift in my one and only powerlifting meet, I was shaking like a leaf in the wind on the way up. I've got it on video; it's even rather comical. They allowed the lift, though. If there had been one more ounce on the bar, I wouldn't have gotten it up.

2. Your stabilizing muscles aren't able to handle the weight yet.

In either case, I would suggest that you follow Dave's implied advice and drop the weight, concentrating more on form and building the stablizing muscles. Don't negelct your core muscles and your back muscles; both contribute to the lift.