My trainer recommended drinking 20 oz.of H2O immediately after my workout - works like a charm.

What kind of exercising are you doing? Is this free weights? Running?

All of the above. I don't feel it much in free weights. I feel it a lot in the Cybex machines when I do the leg lifts and I feel it in my calves when I am jogging. I don't feel it in rapid walking and I didn't feel it today when I basically ran the last lap as fast as I could after doing 50 laps around the .1 of a mile circuit. But when it kicks in, it's pretty bad. I'm probably not drinking enough fluids and I'm not sure about my cardiovascular strength at this point. I was wondering if there is something I can eat or drink before my workouts that would lessen the lactic buildup or delay its onset.

I think you need to get more potassium, for that to work also calcium, but mainly potassium..you can get potassium from bananas, nuts of any kind and i often use salt substitute which is, potassium chloride and a few other things..i often make my own sport drink...lime juice or lemon, salt sub,, a little sugar or honey and water..if, you have lactic acid build up you probably should lay off exercise for a few days and get your metabolism back in sync...

Lactid acid is formed by your body in the production of collagen. Collagen is the fiber that supports bones, muscles, your skin, and even the cornea. When you exercise, you literally destroy part of the muscular tissue. This tissue has to be replenished. Most of the replenishment happens while we sleep. In the process, as a byproduct in the production of glucosamine and its integration into the formation of long protein chains, the body excretes lactic acid. The longer it takes to form the protein, the more lactic acid we produce. So, drinking extra water and some mineral supplementation only works for those people who have dehydration or mineral exhaustion in the first place. For this reason, drinking water or taking potassium may work for a few people, but not for others.

In general, having enough vitamin B6, cooper, iron, vitamin C, glucose (to apply directly to the burning -oxidation- process), and a protein foundation in your diet will help the collagen regeneration process). This process requires adrenaline and testosterone too.

As we know, testosterone and adrenaline production are reduced with age, so we become slower in the production of collagen protein. Now we can see clearly why as we get older, the exercise pains become more intense and prolonged.

The good news is that we can reduce the pains by a lot and increase protein production very effectively.

Tribulus is a precursor of testosterone that many body builders use. It is very effective if you exercise intensely enough.

DMG is a glucosamine catalyst. It accelerates the production of collagen, reducing lactic acid build up.

Glucosamine is a very well known supplement. It is effective only if you have enough vitamin B and cooper in your diet. Else, it does produce a placebo effect.

I hope this helps.

High complex carbohydrates (starches), plenty of fluids (Gatorade or something similar with hard or lengthy workouts), and my biggest recommendation would be good warm ups and cool downs. Most of my fellow bodybuilders would have the cramping when they went straight into heavy weights and high reps without warming up, or pushing through the "burn". Let the burn be a signal to you to pull back on what you're doing. You're not a professional (are you?), so no need to push anything that hard. Do you have shin splints?

I think you should take care and warm up and cool down with stretching. Also If you can begin a work out schedule of day 1 heavy, 2 day light, day 3 moderate it may help.