A Question About Soreness / by Stephen Cooper

Question: I was wondering if what I'm feeling is what I'm supposed to be feeling in terms of soreness/tiredness.  When I was talking with a couple of the other bootcampers they mentioned that when they started they were so sore they couldn't move the next day.  I haven't felt anything that extreme.  I feel like all the muscles are pretty exhausted and, for the muscles we've worked, they feel extra tender/sore enough that I know they worked.   Should I be trying to push myself to feeling the "so sore can't move" feeling vs my "so tired don't want to move" feeling I have right now? (And if so, how would I do that?)

My response:

Your level of soreness depends on various things.  The other boot campers may be sore because they aren't used to our style of training, and more than likely they haven't exercised that hard in a while.  You may be in better shape than you think :)

The way that you described "all the muscles are pretty exhausted and, for the muscles we've worked, they feel extra tender/sore enough that I know they worked" is actually the way I'd prefer that you feel.  you want to know that you were challenged, but not destroyed.  I want your body to change, but I still want you to be able to work and enjoy your other activities.

It sounds to me that you are right on track.


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