Yay! Sore Muscles!

[DenimDaze]

Sore muscles are my new badge of honor. Coming down the stairs this morning, my calves, thighs and even my shoulders complained at me. By the time I got to the bottom of the stairs I was smiling. Yay me! I have a lovely case of ‘Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness’. I’m doing great in my new fitness program!

 

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/feat...stop-exercising

 

 

Basically, I have exercised enough to make myself a little stiff and sore which means I am making progress. I remember this feeling from the last time I worked hard and consistently to get in shape. It is a nice feeling when every move tells you that you are getting stronger and healthier and that you are actually doing something for YOU!

 

I took last night off, 2 days of hard exercise followed by a day of not exercising is a schedule that has worked for me in the past. It produces results fairly quickly and since you get to rest 2 or 3 days a week you lessen your chances of injury or boredom.

 

 

Today I’ll be walking around with a smile and an occasional ‘ow’ as my muscles work to adapt themselves to this suddenly more active person. They love it though, I can tell by how well I’m sleeping and how much easier it is to smile. It isn't a real hurt, its a stretchy tight kind of feeling that you learn to love.

 

Stretching out sore muscles feels great too. As you feel your muscles relax and lengthen you are also working on your flexibility, an important and easy to forget part of any fitness effort. Stretching helps you become more aware of your body as you get fit and less angry at it for not being fit already.

 

 

[Stephanie]

What a positive attitude towards sore muscles!

 

Yesterday, when we went outside for a while (over 70 degrees) I felt so tired and wanted to just sit and watch the kids play. But, I refused to do it!

 

I did relax a bit in a yard chair while letting the new baby goat use me as a climbing toy! (she's so cute!!) But, by in large I was up and moving. I even made two trips around the pond in a purposeful stride. It wasn't much, but it was more than I've been doing. I'm going to try to do some type of exercise again today.

[DenimDaze]

Dtephanie, have you heard of 'Nordic walking'? You walk with a pole in each hand to work your upper body as you walk.

 

I'm thinking you could get yourself a stick for each hand - wht buy when you can make it? - and use them. Getting used to carrying a short staff in each hand cannot be a bad thing...

 

http://www.leki.com/nordicwalking/

 

http://walking.about.com/od/exerstriding/a/exerstriding.htm

[Stephanie]

That is very interesting, I definitely have sticks to choose from! As a matter of fact, when we're taking our nature walks we all find a stick to walk with. But, I've never thought of using two, neat idea.

[Momo]

You should always carry at least one stick anyway when walking. It can come in handy for protection from mean dogs (or even humans for that matter) If you use 2 sticks you will be double ready!

 

 

 

[Stephanie]

I'm only walking on my own property and staying close to the house. There are some coyotes roaming our woods.