Endurance strength workouts - no DOMs?

[berry99]

I just ended an 8 week rotation using the GS workouts. I think that I made some nice strength gains and would typically have some form of DOMs after every workout. I have switched to an endurance based rotation now using the Cathe endurance workouts that I have (SS, PP, ME, MM) and circuit workouts.

I have done this for a week now and I am starting to panic because I don’t have any DOMs at all now. When I am working out the muscle feels fatigued, but I am not sore at all the next day. Should I be lifting heavier? Is this normal for endurance based workouts? Am I losing the strength gains I made with the GS rotation?

Thanks for humoring my questions and providing any advice! I am such a novice at all this stuff.

Karin

 

[megadoo]

I have actually been wondering the same thing! Is it a bad thing if you don't feel that "pain"????
I would love to know.
Maeghan AKA megadoo

 

[seeking_guns]

I think I would have to be the true novice here. What is DOMs? I get that it is muscle pain, but what do the letters stand for? Is there a spot on this forum where all the acronyms are explained?

 

[Jcrew3082]

DOMS stands for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. It is that oh-so-achy feeling you get typically 24 hours after a grueling strength workout and is caused by lactic acid build up.

I find that there doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to my DOMS. Sometimes I get it, other times I don't. It can be confusing when you know you pushed yourself really hard and don't get very sore. Who can figure?

By the way, I don't believe there is a place you can find the acronyms. Just ask lol! Many of them refer to the workouts. For example, PH = Power Hour, GS = Gym Style, PS = Pure Strength.

HTH! (Hope that helps lol)

 

[sunnyside]

DOMS is a strange thing. Sometimes I get it and sometimes I don't.
Like, I did a Turbo Jam workout(Cardio Party) the other day and could hardly move the next day (mostly in my upperbody), and they are not near as difficult as a Cathe Cardio workout. Then, I did Gymstyle Legs, which I haven't done for a long time and no DOMS what-so-ever. This, when a thread is talking about how much Gymstyle legs was giving people DOMS. I don't get it.

I can do some heavy lifting and get no muscle soreness and then turn around and do some light weeding and I can't move the next day. LOL!

 

[seeking_guns]

Ahh! Thanks, Gina.

 

[maxwells]

Hey Karin,

It's not a novice question at all! I think a lot of people THINK they have to have DOMS or else they aren't making progress. This is completely untrue. DOMS is not required for improvement to occur in muscular endurance and/or absolute strength. As a matter of fact, training under constant DOMS can lead to an injury. As long as you feel fatigued during the workout, you are making progress. DOMS as a result of heavy lifting (vs endurance) makes sense because it is a result of micro-trama to the muscle...which is more apt to happen with heavier weights.

In my own training, I incorporate BOTH endurance and heavy lifting always. I will simply focus on one more than the other depending upon what my goals are for the cycle. If I want to build muscle -- I focus more on heavy weights. If I want more endurance -- I focus more on endurance. But I always do both in a week. Endurance and Absolute strength are different components of fitness...just like cardio and flexibility. You have to do both...it's not a one or the other thing. And that's not just my opinion The Cooper Institute specifies that in their literature.

Shonie

 

[berry99]

Thanks so much everyone. Shonie, this is exactly what I wanted to know. I appreciate you taking the time to explain!!

Karin