Fat-Loss II, Leg Pain

Neill · 10-18-2009, 04:39 PM

I think I can answer my question before I ask it: If it hurts, stop doing it.

I just did workout A of fat-loss 2 for the fourth time today, and can no longer ignore a pain that has been developing in my left leg. It's in the inner thigh, going up to my groin. It's not painful enough to prevent me from completing the workout (yet), but I've dropped weight on squats and lunges. While I'm ignoring the pain, I'm silently scolding myself for doing any leg exercises at all. I've never studied anatomy, so I don't know what this muscle, tissue or whatever is called.

My hunch is that the split squats and lunges are causing this pain, since the muscle that hurts is one that really burns during split squats. I've never felt this muscle (or whatever it is) straining during barbell squats before.

Should I stop fat-loss 2 right now and take enough time off for the pain to be gone? (I'm guessing the answer is yes.) Once I'm recovered, what are your opinions on how I should resume NROL? Should I continue FL2 where I left off, or just proceed to a new program? Anything I can do to help heal this thigh/groin pain?

Some background: I'm about as newbie as it gets. I started NROL having never squatted before. So I did just 45 lbs (the bar), and am now up to 105 lbs. That's a big gain for me, so maybe I'm just paying the price for these new adaptations.

Good times...

eric_maryland · 10-19-2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neill

I just did workout A of fat-loss 2 for the fourth time today, and can no longer ignore a pain that has been developing in my left leg.

While I'm ignoring the pain, I'm silently scolding myself for doing any leg exercises at all.

I'm by no means an expert, but these two statements would be enough for me to tell you to stop for a bit. Maybe others will have suggestions for what you could do in the mean time while you let your leg heal, (maybe HYP 1 program A, which is all upper body alternating with something very light on the legs?) If it's really bothering you, it might not be a bad idea to get someone in sports medicine to look at it, with the added benefit that they might be able to design a leg workout for you that would help to heal it. Better to take a short break now to heal yourself than a long break later when you injure yourself.

As far as what to do when you start back up again, I'd say that it depends on how long you're down and how your leg feels when you start back up. If it's only a week or two I don't see any reason why you shouldn't just pick right back up where you left off, or if you really just can't get enough of the BSS w/OHP you could always start FLII again.

Good luck!

jbb · 10-19-2009, 11:45 AM

Do you stretch? I am chronically tight in the muscle/tendon that goes up the inside of the thigh to the groin and need to stretch it regularly. A hurdlers stretch or a sitting forward bend with the legs spread wide seems to work pretty well.

If the pain won't go away with using lighter weights, stretching, and massage, then you should stop and let it heal. The risk is that you could end up with a torn muscle or tendon. While letting that area heal you can still train other areas. Do upper body work, mobility exercises, some cycling or swimming or walking if it doesn't irritate that area.

Neill · 10-19-2009, 02:21 PM

Thanks guys.

Jbb, I think you've described exactly the muscle/tendon that is hurting. I'll take your advice and stretch that area. I stretch after workouts, but am probably not hitting that area at all.

Eric, there's no way I'm starting FL2 over again! Those BSS w/ OHP are killer! When/if I resume the program, I'll probably omit them and try step-ups instead. Or just not do any single-leg exercises at all. Until bodyweight lunges are painless, I'll take it easy.

Neill · 11-04-2009, 03:44 PM

I'm going to blame myself for this on-going pain: I wasn't spending much time stretching. I did the warmups, like described in the book, but I suspect that stretching would have helped avoid my current situation.

It's been a few weeks, but the pain flared up again today as I was trying to resume Fat-Loss 2. Deadlifts are fine, there's never any pain with them. But squats and lunges cause the pain to come back right away. It's almost like a cramp or charlie horse, but not nearly as painful.

I'm going to say that FL2 is a lost cause and move on to Hypertrophy 1. I'm probably not an active enough person to be able to do full-body workouts every workout for months at a time. My legs just can't take the constant punishment!

I hope that H1 will give my muscles enough time between workouts to recover. If not, then I guess I'll... workout with pink dumbbells for the rest of my life!