DOMS - Doh! (16)

Dear Friend,

Do you give it your all when you work out? Have you ever experienced delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)?  I now have a lot more sympathy for how a pin cushion might feel.

Delayed onset muscle soreness is the soreness and stiffness felt in your muscles after doing an unaccustomed or strenuous exercise. The pain is felt most strongly 24 to 36 hours after the exercise. I read that you could feel the pain as much as 72 hours after wards but I never have. When you stress your muscles while working out it causes microscopic tears in the muscle fibers. Normally you might think that a tear in your muscle is a bad thing but microscopic tears are a good thing because it causes your white blood cells to swoop in and repair/renovate the damaged muscle. It's what makes the muscle stronger. The good news is that the pain does pass and then, guess what, you feel awesome. 

When I was a kid my parents and I would drive to Florida once a year to see my Grandparents and then we usually found ways to go to an attraction like Disney. It was a long three day drive for us because my Mom was the only driver. We would stop at different places a long the way to take rest breaks for her and to off-set all the hours in the car. We tent camped at KOA campgrounds and anywhere our AAA guide book told us was decent. We didn't have a lot of money so there weren't any treats or candy in the car. We ate the things my Mom had made before we left home. Our road trips were always fun. It's hard work getting a car load of people from New England to Florida without wanting to murder each other. Thankfully, we always wound up laughing hysterically at some point from sheer exhaustion.   

Those road trips prepared me for my health and wellness journey today. You're probably thinking I'm crazy right now but it's true. Think about it, friend. I spend hours exercising in the gym (that's the car) to live a long and healthy life so I can spend more quality time with my friends and family (that's the road trip). Its important to have goals so you know what you are working towards (that's Disney). You have to incorporate rest days so you don't burn out or risk injury (the tourist stops we made along the way). It's best to have a plan so that when you get to the gym you know what to do (That's the AAA guide book) Meal prepping is key to staying within your caloric budget (Thanks for the home made snacks, Mom!). Oh! and all the road weary laughing? well, that's the camaraderie of your fitness tribe. 

But, Robin, what about DOMS? 

I love Walt Disney World. It has a sentimental value for me that gets me emotional as soon as I walk through the gates. It's a feeling of euphoria that fills my body when I am finally able to stand there. I've usually had to plan and save and work really hard every time I wanted to go to Walt Disney World. It's my goal to get back to Disney again some day. However, have you seen the price of admission at Disney parks nowadays? Ouch! That's painful... That's DOMS. Delayed on-set muscle soreness is the gatekeeper to awesome. If you want to be fit and strong you will experience DOMS. 

Listen, friend, if you're going to have fitness goals that include sore muscles why not let them be symbolized by a beautiful fairy tale castle that lights up at night with fireworks and animated characters you've loved your whole life... *swoon. You'll never reach your goals unless your desire to get there is strong enough, friend. Let's not sugar coat it, DOMS stink. They force you to rest and remind you that you're human. Don't give up! Do whatever you need to do to push through it, friend. Here are some great tips for easing DOMS. 8 Ways to Reduce DOMS

We got this, friend! Let's crush those goals. 

*puts on my Micky Mouse sweat band and game face. 

I'll meet you at Cinderella's castle.

XO, Robin

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