Weight loss :: Top 5 Weight loss Ideas

I am about to embark on a work out regimen. Earlier this year, I spent about 4 months working out 5-6 days per week. I felt great in many ways, but routinely, I suffered from sore muscles. And, especially from strength training. There were times when I was so miserable – and it was scary because sometimes, I worried I was doing damage to myself.
I am a Biggest Loser TV show fan and one question that plagues me when I watch, is how do these guys work out so hard when I know their muscles must be screaming with pain most days? And, it seems the cardio and strength training they do is to exhaustion most times. How realistic is a workout like this for someone who also needs to be functional at work/home, etc.?
Are there natural remedies that really work for sore muscles? Are there certain foods best to eat in order to combat sore muscles? Will I lose weight any faster by working in sessions where I work myself to exhaustion?