DOM-inate Soreness (Get it?)

If you’re going to a new class or doing a new exercise, chances are you’ll be sore the next few days. It’s basically your muscles asking “why do you hate me so much?”. People who actually know things would call this DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness… thus my header joke. Just laugh to make me feel better). DOMS is somewhat unavoidable but it can be lessened by decreasing the amount of weight, or rigorousness of the activity.

This isn’t always easy. If you’re in a group class you probably can’t ask the instructor to end class 20 minutes early because you’re new (well you could try but you might get a lot of dirty looks).

So as an alternative, let’s explore how you can diminish how sore you are:

1. Stretch well enough after the workout
2. Eat enough protein after the workout
3. Roll out your muscles
4. Drink enough water

Stretch and roll your muscles while they’re still warm post-workout (make sure your heart rate is back to normal). I like to go on runs with one of my friends, but immediately upon finishing she will drop to the ground and begin stretching. She’ll stretch for maybe 2 minutes and then get up and walk away. Don’t do this. Spend time stretching after your HR is back to normal.

Now don’t think of this as an annoying thing you have to do. Think of it as giving your body a pat on the back for a job well done! (Don’t roll your eyes at me)

The Rundown

I may not have the perfect body, but I do know how to maintain a healthy weight despite having a stocky body with an irritatingly slow metabolism. I also know what it’s like to resent naturally slender people with small frames, and I know a lot of people reading this post do too.

But if you know what I’m talking about you also know that you can’t live your life wishing you could change something that you just can’t change. You can never change your bone structure, but you can make a serious effort to keep your weight/blood pressure/cholesterol down and live a healthy and active lifestyle.

This is where I (this blog) come in. Obviously this is mostly a running blog, but my goal here is to give inspiration to people who work really hard at the gym and still go “WHAT THE F****?!” when they step on the scale. This blog is for people who say “NO!” to sweets and still see that sugar/carb infested tire around their midsection. Yeah, I know what that’s like and it’s hellza annoying.

Consider me that friend that you can always vent to and no matter how long your rant is I will always come back with incredibly soothing and accurate feedback. Consider me that person you immediately call when you get frustrated about literally anything.

Consider me a helping hand. This is The Rundown.