Hi Feather- Congrats on starting a strength training program! The benefits of that kind of exercise are well worth it and will be with you for years to come if you continue with it.
Soreness...yep, that's the downside. It is VERY NORMAL to be VERY SORE when you are moving your body in ways that you haven't before (or haven't in a very long time), and when you're doing strength training. Yes, warming up, cooling down and stretching will all help you prevent and get over that soreness sooner. The best advice I can give to beginners who have muscular soreness from exercise is to stick with it.
It seems counterintuitive to move more, but actually, moving more (instead of resting by avoiding exercise) will help your body get over that soreness sooner. Check out this article for more tips to prevent and deal with muscle soreness:
Hope that helps--stick with it! It does get better over time.
Coach Nicole
FEATHERA 3/13/08 6:54 P
I just started strength training for the first time in at least 2 months and I am REALLY sore. I'm only doing Modified Plank, crunches with Twist, Triceps Dips and Bent Knees, Modified Pushups, Forward Lunges, and Lying Leg Curls (which is what SparkTeens told me to do). I did my first session on Monday and then again yesterday and my thighs feel very cramped whenever I sit down. I'm wondering if this is just due to the fact that I haven't strength trained in so long or because I'm doing something wrong? I'm not stretching/warming up. Could that be the cause? Or, is this just normal?
