Help me decide: Go to the gym today, or not?

[lyorn]

Pro: I have the time, I have the gear with me, I want to get back on track.
Con: Muscles still sore from Saturday's exercises, can barely get out of my chair without pushing off with my hands, there is much wincing, even walking is painful.

Next planned gym-day is Thursday.

Go, or not?

ETA: Thank you all for your advice. I took a one-hour walk on Tuesday evening, had a hot shower with spicy chocolate shower gel, and spent the rest of the evening on the sofa with a pot of tea and my cats, who were happy to have a warm human to sprawl on. Wednesday, I could get out of my chair with barely any pain, and today I was back at the gym and there was actual progress.

Comments

[rydra_wong]

Do not go! When you're that sore, it is not time to work those muscles hard in the same way; it will just trash them and drive you into the ground with exhaustion.

BUT: do something else instead.

Ideally, some kind of active recovery (yoga, stretching, swimming, foam roller time) that will loosen things up, help your muscles recover, and generally keep you on the Doing Something track.

Thursday is not far away.

[lyorn]

Thank you.

This is shaping up to a long walk, hot shower, hot tea evening. Which is nothing to complain of. ;-)

[rydra_wong]

Nope!

And I speak as someone who's just had to take three days off owing to doing waaay too much in a fit of over-enthusiasm and ending up completely exhausted. So this is me reminding myself as much as anything. *g*

[ciaan]

Yes, nice slow stretching after a hot bath sounds like the way to go.

[untonuggan]

Seconded. Do not do not do not lift things when you're muscles feel that way. They will feel that way times ten tomorrow, and then you will definitely not be lifting things on Thursday.

Listen to your body and (as noted above) do something restorative. I'd also mention the restorative powers of walking.

Pain management techniques: You might also try using some Tiger Balm or Icy Hot on those aching muscles later, as well as a hot bath in epsom salts. If this is a regular thing for you, you could try icing your muscles after you work out.

If you have extra money and this doesn't go away you could always get a massage (check out someone with experience with sports massage) or even a cheaper massage from a student massage clinic (there's one in my neighborhood that offers an hour-long massage for $30 with a massage student). Just make sure you're going to a reputable place. If massage is something you can't afford, consider requesting a gift certificate for massage for Christmas as something you can hold onto in case you get into a "bad place" again...it really can help you heal faster. Also make sure you drink lots of water, eat right, and get plenty of sleep.

Don't know if that's exactly the advice you're looking for, but it's what I have to remind myself when I'm having a pain flare (I have fibromyalgia and plantar fasciitis that keeps rearing its ugly head...also had bursitis in both hips earlier this year and that is a bitch).

Take it from someone with chronic pain. You do not want an injury that will set you waaaay back.

[lyorn]

Thank you.

I am really bad at knowing when to stop, and after this and that kept me from lifting four months out of the last five, I am impatient. Which I *know* is not a good thing to be around heavy iron, and probably has contributed to still being sore after three days...

So I am kind of glad to hear my more reasonable self confirmed against my inner gym teacher. *G*

I think I'll allow myself a nice long walk this evening.

[untonuggan]

Yes, and I say this being the ultimate hypocrite, as apparently my "it's time to stop now" button has been disabled by puritan ancestors. Or something. (Maybe they were gym teachers, too?)

Walks are nice. ^_^

[buddleia]

I don't go while I'm feeling sore from the last time, and it's much worse when I've been out of comission for a bit. You'll enjoy it more if you wait until you're up to it as well!

[mongrelheart]

What everybody else said. A walk, some stretching &/or foam roller, a massage, something restorative, will put you in much better shape for Thursday.

[weirdquark]

Yeah. Do active recovery things instead. If you were just a little sore, then I'd say sure, go, but if you're having trouble getting out of your chair amounts of soreness, you need more down time.