Ouch

I think I overdid it at the gym this past week... I keep trying to switch out my workout routine... but it never works... And my legs are so sore I'm taking a day off tomorrow... I don't see what I'm doing wrong, 'cause I'm working out my upper body just as much, if not a little more... and am barely seeing or feeling anything.

What types of things are you doing that make your legs hurt so much?    I will say that when I use a new muscle in a new way and give it a good burn... I hurt for two days!  For example:  Once I learned the CORRECT way to do a lunge.... OH MY I hurt for two + days!  Drink lots of water!!!   

One thing I have heard... is if you know you will be doing strenuous(sp) exercise take a small dose of ibeuprofen(sp)  before your workout and you won't hurt so much afterwards.  Just don't use it very often cause it's not very good for your stomach!! 

Now that my body is used to lunges... it takes a LOT for me to make em burn like they used to!  

Make sure you drink plenty of water, stretch well after your exercise session, and don't use those muslces again until you no longer feel the pain!  :)

Well, I wouldn't suggest taking ibeuprofen (i stole coppertop's spelling, so blame her if it's wrong :P) if it's just soreness. NSAIDs (of which ibeuprofen is one) have been shown to reduce the effectiveness of weight training.

On another note, soreness isn't really a good way to judge if you're getting a good workout, if you can barely finish your set you're getting a good workout.

I do the elliptical 15 to 30 (depending on how I feel that day) to get me started on some cardio... Then I do about 20 minutes of weights... And if I have a friend with my, like I did when I wrote the post above... We usually play racquet ball or basketball for 20 minutes.

When you're sore from a work out, foods high in potassium can help you clear the lactic acid out of your muscles.  Bananas, grapes, and even potatoes are excellent to help ease that post work out pain.