Group: Beginners to Exercise

Created: 2012/01/01, Members: 970, Messages: 18927

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After one week on the pain train

myoung6470
myoung6470
Posts: 75
Joined: 2003/10/30
United States
2003/11/09, 06:44 PM
Well, I thought I was in pretty good shape and cardio-wise I probably am. After the first week of my training program I have discovered muscles that I didn't know I have - you know, like the ones between the shoulders and the neck. (What are those?) And my calves, donkey presses are felt for days after you do them. (And if you have the world's skinniest legs, the future looks bleak.)
Two things. First, I seem to be straining the muscles in the back of my neck. I think I'm doing that while doing my twisting crunches. Does anyone out there have any tips for preventing this. That stiff neck can be a real headache the next day.
Second, I need a good calorie counting resource so I can do a better job tracking my diet. Is there a source out there that is kind of the standard that everybody uses?
Thanks, everybody for being here!

Happy trails,

Mike Young
big_j_scf
big_j_scf
Posts: 308
Joined: 2003/11/08
United States
2003/11/09, 10:48 PM
those muscles are the traps (trapezius muscles). make sure that you breath and while working hard stay fairly relaxed. If it's bein caused by the crunches, then youre assisting with your hands too much. try putting youre fingers behind your ears instead of completely behind your head. fight the urge to assist yourself with your hands. Good Luck!
myoung6470
myoung6470
Posts: 75
Joined: 2003/10/30
United States
2003/11/10, 07:22 AM
Thanks! I appreciate the quick reply. I'll give that a shot and, hopefully, just muscle aches the next day.
azredhead57
azredhead57
Posts: 1,651
Joined: 2003/04/11
United States
2003/11/10, 04:20 PM
I tend to keep my neck and upper back pretty tense when I workout, haven't figured out how to relax. I constantly feel like I have a stiff neck.

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~Victoria~
...There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.--Beverly Sills
bluestreak
bluestreak
Posts: 11
Joined: 2003/10/30
United States
2003/11/10, 04:31 PM
I had quite a few sore muscles after my first day of working out. It lasted about 4 days. After the second day, the sore muscles were gone in a day. strange... ?
myoung6470
myoung6470
Posts: 75
Joined: 2003/10/30
United States
2003/11/10, 08:10 PM
The sore neck is really the only downside. I don't mind the other soreness. I have been pleased to have sore biceps and triceps etc . . . The neck thing can turn in to an extended headache if I don't remind myself to relax those muscles.

Thanks everybody for their posts! This is a great web community!

Happy trails,

Mike

Still on the pain train . . .