General Question on Cramping / Muscle Fatigue

[Magnushawk]

I used to work out diligently as a teen and in my early twenties and then again in from 25-27. So I stopped and I'd try to go back about once a year. I'm 34 now and I gave up trying about three years ago because every time I went back I had wickedly bad muscle soreness. It was epic. I'm talking to the point that I couldn't get a spoon to my mouth, or a cigarette to my lips (*sigh)... After a few days it would go away, but would come back if I tried to lift weights. I could do cardio no problem but weights became off-limits.

Keep this in mind, I never over-did anything when I was doing weights. I was a very knowledgeable free weight lifter and I know how to not over-do. I'd come in and do machines using very light weights with slow, smooth movements, without over extending.

So does anyone else have any experience with quitting analogs and going back to the gym? I saw some posts here that suggested that muscle cramping and traditional cigarette smoking have some correlation. Do you think this cramping I experienced from the light weights was a sign of the damage the years of smoking did to my body?

I started vaping as lightly as I was smoking analogs about 5 days ago. I take a few vape-breaks a day. I used to smoke about 10 tcigs (American Spirit Lights) a day during the week and averaged 10-15 cigs a day on the weekend. I don't plan on vaping more than that.

I want to get back to the gym for real soon. I'll finish detoxing from those blasted analogs and I'm hoping I can expect to not come out of the gym a temporary cripple this time. Anyone else know what I mean?

 

[Vaporilo]

Lactic acid buildup is the culprit when it comes to muscle soreness. Mostly, it is a product of breaking down muscle fibers and is totally normal. It's also completely natural to get cramping along side muscle fatigue and it's really something you just need to train out of. As for smoking, It is a well known fact that bad blood circulation to the muscle will cause cramping and since smoking causes bad blood circulation... you get the point.

Over time these pains will fade, but it does take longer the older you get because of the decreasing quality of muscle tissue and the more damage you can potentially do to them. The Potassium in Bananas will help with the lactic acid and so will vitamin C. As always you should drink as much water as you possibly can throughout the day and Gatorade when you work out as hydration is a key factor in muscle performance.

 

[Mike A.]

"I'm 34 now..." <--- Well, there's yer problem right there. ; )

Seriously, soreness and cramping are two different things. You start to react differently to things like that as you get older and it gets harder and takes longer to recover. Things that I wouldn't even blink doing when I was younger I'll now wake up the next day all stiff and sore and thinking what the hell?? lol Last time that I ran full court basketball with the young guys I thought that my ankles were going to just shear off and I was so sore that I could barely walk for two days.

Unless you have some indication otherwise, I'd chalk it up to getting older and just take it real slow getting back into it until you get used to it again.

 

[rothenbj]

Thirty years old is NOT old, if you remain active. I played competitive volleyball and softball into my middle 50's. I road distance road bike just as long and was keeping up with people 30 years younger. In fact I road a 100 mile charity event that my considerably younger (16 years to be exact) wore out nine miles short of the goal.

What you can't expect to happen is sit around year after year and then expect your body to cooperate. I seriously considered getting on a softball team last year, but through lack of any serious competition the last eight years I decided it was smart to stay retired. Although this year I probably will get back out bike riding because I'm starting to feel lethargic. Then again, hopping on my new motorized two wheeler might change that thought, Not sure I want to go through the pain of getting back in shape.