Pace yourself
If you’ve been mostly locked indoors for an extended period of time (months), what would happen if you went outdoors when the temperature warmed up and you suddenly spent three hours in the hot sun? You’d get burnt. Fried, in fact! You’d then be miserable and most likely unable to “catch some rays” or spend any time outside for a long time to come. What should have you done? Slowly integrate yourself to the new stimulus. Instead of three hours, you should have spent 15 minutes here and 15 minutes there—working your way up to a longer period of time spent outdoors.
Similarity, our fitness operates the same way. If you’ve been mostly lethargic and doing no exercise for an extended period of time, what would happen if you went to the gym and crushed a multiple-hour workout? You’d get wrecked. And sore. Dangerously sore! You’d then be out of sorts and most likely unable to work out for a long time to come. And you’d probably be a little afraid of getting back to the iron. What should have you done instead? Slowly integrate yourself. You should have gotten a low-intensity, 15-30 minute workout under your belt. Rest a day or two, then do it again. Slowly working your way up in intensity and duration.
If any of this resonates with you, take heed. Pace yourself. Slowly integrate yourself to the stressors ahead. And if you have a trainer who wants to “throw you to the wolves” because he or she prides himself or herself on soreness, get a new trainer. He or she is not smart.