You know you’ve had a good workout when…
- Your legs are wobbly when you are walking out of the gym
- Your calves hurt when you push down the gas pedal
- Your arms ache when you lift your tooth brush
- Your abs hurt when you laugh out loud
Have you had one of those workouts when your body hurts and the pain is worse two days after your workout? I’m going through one of those “hurts so good” kind of phases right now. Everything aches…my hamstrings, my lats, my biceps, my shoulders…especially my shoulders! Did I mention my shoulders?
So, besides complaining non-stop about it, I’ll be breaking out my…
Fitness & Spice Recovery Kit
Inside the kit is:
- Epsom Salt for soaking my sore bones in a hot bath…it’s inexpensive and magical for reducing inflammation
- Advil Liqui-Gels and Tylenol PM (but not taken at the same time, just to be clear!)
- Foam roller for massaging the problem areas (and right now, just about everything is a problem area)
- Ice pack (see Frosty in this picture? That’s a wash cloth puppet I picked up at Bath & Body Works last year. It stays in my freezer with a baggie full of ice all year long)
How do you know when you’ve had a good workout and what do you do about it?
I’ll just sit down on the red chair with Frosty while you tell me all about it…
Michelle@Eatingjourney says:
December 1st 2009when i sit in the shower until I run the hot water out.
Lance says:
December 1st 2009Hey I’m there right now too! It’s my quads…from a killer set of squats on Sunday. I look like I waddle when I I walk!! I know it was a great workout because of the muscle soreness. I also know that my legs wouldn’t be nearly this sore had I been doing squats more regularly…hmmm…
Still…it’s a good hurt!! And I’ll commiserate with you…between us it’s a full body soreness!!
Miz says:
December 1st 2009for me its when I feel as though Ive more energy AFTER than when I began.
so frequently I feel like “can I seriously make it through this day with my energetic child?” before and AFTER Ive expended energy I feel like “HELL TO THE YES I CAN!”
:)
Jessica@HowSweet says:
December 1st 2009I love when my abs hurt when I laugh!
The Candid RD says:
December 1st 2009Oh wow, it’s been so long since I’ve had that type of pain! I guess for me I just focus on my sweat, and how good I feel. I usually only get sore when I work a different muscle or do a different type of workout. That’s because I am using muscles that aren’t used to being pushed. I’m not a fan of being sore, I’m a huge baby and I complain about it to Nick. I try not to get sore, as much as possible! But I do know it’s good to do new things and work different muscle groups, so good for you :) Glad you have a good recovery kit!
Diane Fit to the Finish says:
December 1st 2009When I just want to collapse on the couch after I come inside. And, when it takes me several loops around my neighborhood street to cool down!
Jess (Fit Chick in the City) says:
December 1st 2009Woot,woot for good workouts! I love your cloth puppet. I would have to say that the foam roller is my favorite thing for relieving tight/sore muscles.
Unless I’ve done something crazy like run hill repeats or run a long distance, I don’t usually realize the workout was that good until the next day. I don’t know why, but I can’t always tell how hard I’m actually working.
Jess (Fit Chick in the City) says:
December 1st 2009One last thing. ;) I just read what Jessica wrote… I love that too!
Diane says:
December 1st 2009I agree wholeheartedly with the Epsom Salt, Joanna. A word or two of caution, though. Be careful with those shoulders. Because rotator cuff surgery HURTS!
Heather says:
December 1st 2009I love some good old DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). I know I’ve had a killer leg workout when I can’t hover the toilet! YIKES! I agree that Epsom salt is the best!
LindaM says:
December 1st 2009When just getting up out of my chair at the office emits a groan from me because my quads are crying…Gob bless the Bulgarian Split Squat–it gets me every time! Also, when a sneeze doubles me over courtesy of a superset of ab rollouts and hanging leg raises. Gotta love it!
Susan says:
December 1st 2009When I come home staaaarving, I know I worked up a good appetite ;)
Trainerpack says:
December 1st 2009Epsom salts are the best and cheapest!
Melissa says:
December 1st 2009For 2 days after my Friday morning yoga class, my obliques hurt when I cough or laugh!
Brett says:
December 1st 2009If you live near the ocean, hop in a freezing cold tide. It feels sooo good the next morning!
Tricia says:
December 1st 2009….when you’re still feeling it two days later, but you’re ready for more!
Nancy O says:
December 1st 2009When your heart keeps pounding away, a few minutes after when you’ve switched gears to do something ordinary. When the bottoms of your feet, and all kinds of other “connective tissue,” throbs! Feels good to know that my body is waking up from it’s long sleep of inadequate activity.
Caroline says:
December 1st 2009When I get the best night sleep! I love the feeling like you had a great workout and everything is sore, makes me feel accomplished!
Yum Yucky says:
December 1st 2009Do foam rollers work on backs. I’ve had a tight, achy spot ’round my should blade area for years. It’s terrible.
FatFighterTV says:
December 1st 2009OMG, that is the cutest ice pack I have ever seen! A massage is the best treatment ever for sore muscles.
Zoe says:
December 1st 2009I love love love the “hurts so good” feeling! :) It means that you kicked boo-tay! I am a firm believer in the epsom salt soak…100%!
John W. Zimmer says:
December 3rd 2009Yep – 2 days after the workout is right. Same here. I notice most on new muscle groups (which is everything by my legs right now). Sounds like you will do ok with the bath, massage and ice packs. :)
Lauren @ Team Giles says:
December 10th 2009Great post, it made me smile… and very good tips too :)