Days off

GoldAura · 08-10-2009, 09:40 AM

How many days off do you normally take?
Since I'm already used to going to the gym for 5 days in a row, I thought that once I start NROLFW, I would lift every other day and maybe do some light activity/cardio in the days between. I did my first workout of phase one on thursday and my 2nd on Saturday and was going to do my 3rd today but holy, my legs and butt still hurt!! It literally kicked my ass.

Did anyone else struggle like this in the beginning? Because I was so used to working out, I haven't felt muscle soreness in a long time and now I feel completely out of shape when my muscles still hurt two days after!!

I really want to work out today, but is it best to sit this one out if I still feel soreness (even though its been 2 days)?

Lyrica · 08-10-2009, 10:34 AM

The book states you want to give your muscles 48 hrs to recover before you work them again. (pg 126) Are you doing the extra exercises you posted about previously? If you are maybe just do the workouts as listed in the book and add those in later.

GoldAura · 08-10-2009, 12:13 PM

Nope, Ive been doing just what the plan says.
I worked out Saturday, its now monday - that's roughly 48hours.

hazeldazel · 08-10-2009, 12:48 PM

yep, i think everyone goes through the "OMG-MY LEGS!" phase in the beginning. The first week is hell and then it gets better. Remember that you don't *have* to do anything on off days. Rest and let your body recover, if you start having extra energy, do some walking.

I do some steady-state walking on off days now, but not the first week. It was a challenge just coming in doing the workouts. That and doing things like going down stairs, going to the bathroom, getting out of bed, etc.

GoldAura · 08-10-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hazeldazel

yep, i think everyone goes through the "OMG-MY LEGS!" phase in the beginning. The first week is hell and then it gets better. Remember that you don't *have* to do anything on off days. Rest and let your body recover, if you start having extra energy, do some walking.

I do some steady-state walking on off days now, but not the first week. It was a challenge just coming in doing the workouts. That and doing things like going down stairs, going to the bathroom, getting out of bed, etc.

Ugh I KNOW!!
I did Workout B on Saturday and yesterday was a very very hard day for me, haahah... I could barely navigate myself around the house.
I woke up this morning ready for the gym, but judging but how painful it was to get out of bed, I think I might make this another off day. I don't think I can do a proper squat today when my legs hurts so bad from 2 days ago!
I'll leave it to tomorrow then I can do everything properly and put everything I got into it.

miss_jupiter76 · 08-10-2009, 01:28 PM

I am trying to do just do 2 intervals a week that way i'm getting in the same 5 days. Which is a lot more than I'm getting in before. You know I wasn't in that much pain after the first workout but I did it after I played tennis for 30 min (mostly chasing balls). This was b4 I got to the part in the book about not doing that. I was very tired and very stiff though. This isn't like Body For Life if you've ever done that, you don't have to go to or past your breaking point with the weights. Like you should be able to do one more rep if you wanted to (you're just not supposed to) BFL says you should have to struggle to get through that last rep.

Evie · 08-12-2009, 04:33 PM

I'm always sore the first couple of workouts in each stage. I think most people probably are. Your body gets used to doing the same stuff all the time (ie, efficient), so when you start anything different your muscles take a while to adapt. Once they adapt, you have to change your routine again. I'd say just do whatever you're comfortable doing on your days off-- enough to get the blood going but not so much that you can't do the next weight workout. I usually do some moderate cardio and some stretching, mostly to get the blood flowing but also because I can't sit still all day.