I've been exercising more, yet my legs grow worse?

[Deja Q]

Two nights ago I walked for a mile.

Three days before I also had.

Four before that I walked for ~3 hours.

Ditto a week before that.

This AM I used my elliptical trainer for 5 minutes and noticed, when compared to a year ago, I couldn't use it for more than 6 minutes before really getting tired. (I'm also using it slowly.)

When I took a nap today, I felt pins and needles in my legs and my upper legs are sore.

The fact I've walked more in the last 3 weeks than I have the last 6 months' combined, would that be why I'm in this pain? Constricted muscles/pain from previous lack of use?

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. Rest

You need to rest more between exercise sessions. Your body is telling you that you're overdoing it.

Pain is a warning. Do heed it. The key is moderation - or so I'm told.

Good luck.

[SmokingJacket]

2. Um... you're tired?

Baby steps, man. Ease back into things.

[kedrys]

3. Are you eating well, or taking vitamins?

If not, chances are your body can't get rid of the lactic acid produced by exercise, or find the building blocks it needs to repair muscle tissue. You might consider aminoacid supplements in addition to a full-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement.

[Deja Q]

8. Strattera is limiting my appetite but my diet is mostly meats and veggies.

(vegetables but the subject line was too small, tee hee.)

I am taking vitamin supplements (b12-centric and a general supplement) but I will conside amino acid supps as well. Thx!

[kedrys]

12. Overtraining is a possible cause of pain/discomfort as well

When I was bodybuilding, I used to alternate the body parts I trained: upper body one day, lower body the next, so that everything would have a chance to heal. I also took L-carnitine, which helps repair muscle tissue. Just don't try to train through the pain, it'll only get worse. Give yourself some rest time.

Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon! :)

[mr_hat]

11. Agreed. Potassium is especially important. Bananas!

[patrice]

4. Stretching is very important, be moderate, but be consistent.

You will get stronger.

[liberalnurse]

5. Check with your family physician.

I don't know you age, weight or health status but your physician does. He could connect you with a professional exercise therapist and/or even do a good health work-up regarding your cardio/ circulation state.

[Deja Q]

10. I've talked with him on the issue many times.

He didn't give me a lot to go on except the basics. Given my obvious naivety, I was hoping he would have referred me to someone. Oh well. :D

[liberalnurse]

13. Look in the phone book or call you local

hospital for a PM&R Physician....Physical Medicine and Rehab Specialist. They can put you on the path......another option is a Sports Medicine Physician.

[MichiganVote]

6. Shin splints. Better take it easy.

[politicaholic]

7. Avoid cramping...

potasium and lots of water is the best for that.

Icey/Hot of course.

And before you go to bed massage in Vitamin E oil, that should help healing and promote blood flow.

Good Job on the activity, keep it up!

[serryjw]

9. Water..Water and more Water

what everyone said is correct and don't try and make up for lost time. I'm doing exactly what you are doing and it's been more than 6 months for me. Take it slower and drink plenty of water which you are losing when you exercise.

[flvegan]

14. Sounds like DOMS.

Delayed onset muscle soreness. Very common.

[Ready4Change]

15. The longer you've been sedentary, the longer it takes to get back on track

Be willing to be patient with yourself.

Little pains, little tiredness is ok. Big pains, or passing out? Call the doc.

And I often don't feel stiff/sore from exercise until 2 (two) days later. I've no excuse for that. Stiff/soreness the next day is more the norm.

Good on ya for getting back into shape.

[SkipNewarkDE]

16. Elliptical Trainer

I started back into highly aerobic activity a few months ago. I always considered myself to be "fit" as I ride horses every day for an hour or more.

But as with anything, getting onto a new machine, or starting a new regimen, or even varying what you usually do can be a rather painful and exhausting endeavor, until your body "figures it out."

My first day back on an elliptical exercise machine, I did about twenty minutes. I was exhausted, panting like a hot dog, but kept plugging away at it. I could not walk right for the next four days. I got back on the thing, did another twenty minutes a few days later, despite the pain. Took two days off again, and back on the third day.

I was perpetually sore for about two weeks, but then all of a sudden something happened.. My muscles finally got stretched out, and I got used to it. Within three weeks I was on the thing for 30 minutes at a time. A few weeks later, 45 minutes at a time. I dropped some 15 lbs. in less than eight weeks.

Now just because you get used to working one machine doesn't mean switching to something different is going to be effortless. It isn't. I tried running cross country, and although I could go on the machine for 45 minutes to an hour, I found that I was sore and winded after about ten minutes of running on the ground outside. But each day I could go a little farther, and hopefully I will be back to going several miles without getting too exhausted.

Listen to your pain, and put a few days between each intense work out until your body gets used to what you are doing.

ALSO NEVER STRETCH WITH COLD MUSCLES. A common but incorrect practice that many people do is actually try stretching out BEFORE they exercise. Don't do this. Get on a machine, get your heart rate up to aerobic levels appropriate for your weight, age and fitness level, and go for about ten minutes or so. Then you can stop and do some stretching exercises before you continue.

[SkipNewarkDE]

17. Total Pain

I might add that I had been doing a leg strenght training regimen at the same time, and the pain was unbearable, and it was done under the supervision of a trainer! It took several days before I could walk normally, but it comes. Just don't overdo it, and alternate your training days to give you muscles time to recover. Within a few short weeks, you'll look back at this time, and wonder why the heck you were so sore all the time, yet see your fitness level and stamina increase!

[Pale Blue Dot]

18. I've been working out consistantly for 3 months now.

I saw no real changes for the first 2 months, and then all the sudden I just started to firm up everywhere. Now I'm thinner than I've been in about 15 years, and my hypothetical lovelife is starting to pick up, too!

Note: Your results may vary. Consult a doctor before starting this or any exercise program.

[xmas74]

19. Go slow.

Stretch out well before you work out-any kind of workout.
Switch up your workout-one day walking, another strength training.
Also, look into something like a water aerobics class. Very easy to do and tends to be lots of senior citizens so the pace is slower. You still get a decent workout but less wear and tear on your joints.
When I first started trying to get back in shape I did all of my old exercises (running, weight lifting, high intensity aerobics). Big mistake. I was sore nonstop and I tore a ligament. My doctor recommended water aerobics as a step back. I did it and quickly worked my way back up.