How do you feel about pain?

[SteelWeaver]

Weight training inevitably means you're going to feel some pain at some point. Maybe a lot of pain. We often talk/hear about pushing through the pain, whether it be psychological (diet-induced), or physical (induced by training).

There's also the notion that different people experience pain differently. And some are able to endure pain for longer than others.

I have some questions about this. Are the people who are able to endure pain for longer likely to be the better athletes?

Is pushing beyond pain thresholds a necessary part of improvement in weight training?

Are bb'ers somehow addicted to pain - or the endorphins released by pain?

Anyone here actually ENJOY the pain???

 

[The Shadow]

...pain ain't nuttin but French bread.....

 

[spiderwoman]

"sweat, pain, agony... love it!"

haven't you ever seen that tee-shirt?

 

[VeggieLifterChick]

The t-shirt my team got during field hockey season one year said, "Pain is for the moment, Pride is Forever." You needed to keep that sort of thing in mind during sprints.

 

[makedah]

Hmm. I reserve the term "pain" for the sharp "I hurt myself!" warning signal. I don't know if that is what you're talking about here. But I don't push through that. I do, however, find ways to train that won't aggravate the tender spot (like my shoulder or my low back) so much.

I certainly push through the "discomfort" that accompanies exercising. Sometimes it feels good, sometimes it's a bear and I'm just sticking it out for the results. When I was running, I was guaranteed that the first mile would be miserable, but I knew that it would get better in a few minutes and the promise of a "runner's high" kept me coming back.

My first week of WSB, I was SO sore. My god. I'd never been so sore in my whole life. Instead of just getting sore the next day, I could get sore by nightfall if I sat at my desk all day after training in the morning. I got up once after watching a movie and my friend laughed as I hobbled up the aisle like an arthritic old woman. If one could die from DOMS, I would have been in the ICU. I swear, until then, I didn't know I needed my obliques to sleep at night! It hurt, but at the same time, it felt good psychologically to know that I was shaking things up for the old bod.

 

[BuffChick77]

I believe some of us enjoy the pain (sometimes a little to much). I know i'm one of them - but then again, i'm a freak. lol
On leg night once, training with a friend of mine, we were sort of just "going threw the motions" - at least that's how it felt. I remember thinking to myself "I could have pushed a little harder". Until the next morning, I couldn't't get down the stairs unless I held on to the railing!!! OMFG was I in pain!!! Don't get me wrong, my morbid mind enjoyed every min of it, and for the next week I walked like i had some un-natural object up my rear it hurt so bad. I haven't done that since...

 

[Gladiola]

ME! ME! I like pain!

I actually enjoy being spanked, flogged, riding crops are cool. Like being bitten too. Yes, I own stripper shoes & black vinyl clothes - I'm into BDSM.

"Is pushing beyond pain thresholds a necessary part of improvement in weight training?"
Well, yes in terms of the lactic acid burn, that can hurt pretty terribly sometimes, so SOME pain is HEALTHY & must be pushed through.

On the other hand, pain indicative of a PROBLEM, or damage to a joint is not healthy & needs attention, not "pushing through". Where the line is between healthy & unhealthy pain, I've NO IDEA! & you get a different answer with everyone you ask, witness my experience with weightlifting coach saying, "Ignore it", PT friend saying "Adapt - don't squat so low, rehab, ice, etc." & orthopedist saying, "STOP! Do nothing."

"Are the people who are able to endure pain for longer likely to be the better athletes?"
I don't know, but I DO know that if an athlete ignores pain for too long & doesn't train SMART - they will not be an athlete for long! - Witness my former coach who doesn't compete in weightlifting any longer despite a young age of 38 - b/c of 3 reconstructive knee surgeries - caused by overtraining & not training smart.

 

[JLo]

Anyone here actually ENJOY the pain???

Lifting and sexual pain I DO enjoy....

Toothaches I don't....

If I'm not sore and in pain the day after lifting, I'm pissed. I wanna feel like I did something. My measurement is pain, whether it's an accurate measurement or not.

 

[grlpwrd]

I liken exercise pain to childbirth...I don't like the process and experience of pain, but the outcome is worth it.

 

[The Shadow]

Re: Re: How do you feel about pain?

Lifting and sexual pain I DO enjoy....

Toothaches I don't....

LOL