Forever DOMS

[cailifo]

I've been training martial arts for nearly 7 years, and have pretty good fitness and flexibility. However, I am still unable to do any type of splits. I believe I know the right methods after studying and training Mr. Kurz' method. The problem is I have to take frequent breaks due to muscle soreness, then I lose my motivation and may go a week or two without stretching. Every time I come back, however, I feel no loss of flexibility, so that is good.

Here's the thing though. I've always been super thin, although unusually strong for my size. Dynamic stretches are great for me. I can feel the looseness right away and throughout the day. I can easily kick over my head in all directions. However, when I do static stretching even lightly, with one repetition of any 30 second stretch, for the next day or few I experience DOMS, halting further practice until it heals. So, I figured since I was stretching so lightly, it must be a strength issue rather than an overload. After all, I'm pretty skinny as I said.

But then, the same thing happens if I try any sort of strength exercises. I feel great when I do them. I do different stance training and dynamic strength exercises like squats and such, paying attention again not to overdo it. The next day or few again I get the DOMS and have to halt my practice, which makes for very slow if any progress.

So, what's going on? Do I have to do one squat and one 5 second stretch per day until I can add it up, or what? It's kind of ridiculous. As I said, my fitness level is great. I can do any challenge you give me, but can't get past this DOMS crap. I'm sitting here with sore legs as I type.

Anyone else experience this? Any advice?

Appreciate!

[Thomas Kurz]

The first thing that comes to my mind is nutrition. So two questions you need to ask yourself:

1. Do you get enough high-quality protein to build and rebuild your muscles?

2. Is it possible that you get too much pro-inflammatory foods (corn and products from corn-fed animals, polyunsaturated fats) and not enough anti-inflammatory (monounsaturated fats, grass-fed meat, eggs from hens not fed corn, vegetables, fruits)?

[cailifo]

I've been on a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet for almost 2 years now, although nothing has changed health or weight-wise. I'll look into it and see what I may possibly need to change. Unless you have acccessible information on the topic.

[cailifo]

Hi Mr. Kurz,

I think you hit the nail on the head with the pro/anti-inflammatory foods. I've made just a small diet adjustment based on that information and am able to do quite intense stretching and strengthening routines and not have a trace of a pain the following day.

This allows me to train more often now and I can feel the difference right away. Thanks for the tips!

[Thomas Kurz]

I've made just a small diet adjustment based on that information and am able to do quite intense stretching and strengthening routines and not have a trace of a pain the following day.

What was that adjustment?

[cailifo]

Well, I know there are still many things I eat that are considered "pro-inflammatory". However, the only thing I really took out was the eggs, and now I don't seem to have a problem at all. So, I got it right with my first choice. The rest of my diet must balance out some how.

[tyciol]

Polyunsaturated are pro-inflammatory? I always read like fish oil and flax and all that were good, but monounsaturated would mean stuff like olive oil is good! I sort of figured all the unsaturated were antiinflammatory, arg.

[Thomas Kurz]

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2 ... etary.html

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2 ... y-fat.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/07/magaz ... gewanted=1