Overtraining

[Matthew Bryduck]

The whole topic of “Overtraining” is surrounded by a shroud of myths and misconceptions in bodybuilding circles. They're some fitness gurus believe that virtually everyone is overtraining, and then some other fitness gurus believe it’s impossible to overtrain.

I have been training for about 5 or 6 months training 6 to 7 days a week with awesome gains. What are your thoughts on overtraining? How often do you train? You do you follow a schedule or go off how you body feels?

Matt

[gaz90]

i have only been training 18 months, and for most of that time alot of what i did was whatever i felt like doing on the day. I made good progress and havent got injured or anything, definitely never felt like i was 'over-training'.

but i didnt like my half assed approach to training, i felt like i was selling myself short, i wanted to find out what actually works for me, instead of doing random shit all the time. and since i have started programming supp/access lifts correctly, using DE 3 week waves and choosing my exercises wisely... i do feel really fresh going into a workout and hit 5 PRs last month -that never happens!

from this its obvious to me im definitely not experienced enough to judge my workouts based on how i feel.

[Behemoth]

It takes a lot to truly over train. More often than not the mind is the weak link IMO.

[Matthew Bryduck]

Agreed, mental toughness is huge while training. This separates the champions from the average.

It takes a lot to truly over train. More often than not the mind is the weak link IMO.

[FearFactory]

It takes a lot to truly over train. More often than not the mind is the weak link IMO.

Not only that, but I would venture to say most of the time it is caused by outside interference anyway, not necessarily the actual training. Massive stress, poor nutrition, etc.

To answer the OP, I go 4 days a week (upper/lower) and simply just take a week off when I am feeling run down (it almost always happens when I am very busy outside the gym).

I hate deloading. If I can't go hard in the gym, I just don't go at all.

[gaz90]

Not only that, but I would venture to say most of the time it is caused by outside interference anyway, not necessarily the actual training. Massive stress, poor nutrition, etc.

To answer the OP, I go 4 days a week (upper/lower) and simply just take a week off when I am feeling run down (it almost always happens when I am very busy outside the gym).

I hate deloading. If I can't go hard in the gym, I just don't go at all.

agreed. while training is usually the one place where i can switch off from everything else, ive recently been under alot of stress and cant seem to get in the zone right now.

i just do what i can do on the day and if i have a bad session i just write it off, no sense dwelling on afew bad workouts here and there.

[starkcb]

I don't believe in overtraining. I believe in under recovering. how often do you after a hard workout take supplementation, get a massage, sleep, take a bath, drink the right amount of water, fuel your body with nutrients. For the majority of us the answer is probably one or two at the most of these. if your body isnt recovering in a timely then people want to just say well you did to much (overtraining). not the case! try a little more recovery

[Travis Bell]

Overtraining is typically something people don't need to focus on. If people spent more time on getting the right amount of food in, getting the right amount of sleep and a good training split, it's something that wouldn't even be discussed.

Most aren't honestly even strong enough to be concerned with overtraining.

[J L S]

Overtraining is typically something people don't need to focus on. If people spent more time on getting the right amount of food in, getting the right amount of sleep and a good training split, it's something that wouldn't even be discussed.

Most aren't honestly even strong enough to be concerned with overtraining.

this....

I learned all of this the hard way when I fancied a change and attempted smolov. The things I learned from just the base cycle in that one month in terms of recovery im still carrying through my training with me now and will for a long time to come

[chris mason]

Not only that, but I would venture to say most of the time it is caused by outside interference anyway, not necessarily the actual training. Massive stress, poor nutrition, etc.

To answer the OP, I go 4 days a week (upper/lower) and simply just take a week off when I am feeling run down (it almost always happens when I am very busy outside the gym).

I hate deloading. If I can't go hard in the gym, I just don't go at all.

So, the real question is what results have you achieved with your method? What PRs in size or strength have you set in the last 6 months? What are your stats etc.?

[Whoopipally]

I agree with the statement that "over training" is often a term misused for "under-recovering."

[chris mason]

Oh boy, overtraining is 100% real and the reason many, many people don't make the progress they could.

You can only do so much high intensity exercise and recover from it. The bigger and stronger you get, the less you can take. Now, intensity is the key. Training volume can be quite high with lower intensity work, but that which actually makes you bigger and or stronger is the higher intensity work and that has to be limited. Lower intensity work can and should be used for restorative reasons.

By the way, confusion over volume and intensity is the core of the whole overtraining argument.

[Whoopipally]

Oh boy, overtraining is 100% real and the reason many, many people don't make the progress they could.

You can only do so much high intensity exercise and recover from it. The bigger and stronger you get, the less you can take. Now, intensity is the key. Training volume can be quite high with lower intensity work, but that which actually makes you bigger and or stronger is the higher intensity work and that has to be limited. Lower intensity work can and should be used for restorative reasons.

By the way, confusion over volume and intensity is the core of the whole overtraining argument.

What is the line between High Intensity work and just regular, hard work? Are we talking about sets over 90% and such?

Or I guess a better question how can one tell if you're over training? What can you see in a template that should raise red flags?

[GazzyG]

I don't believe in overtraining. I believe in under recovering.

Agreed 100%.

Recovery and adequate eating, I'm beginning to find, are the key.

With the cardio I've added to my routine, it's really hammered home the point of making sure to get enough calories and enough rest. Now that I've started to get those things in balance, strength and stamina are on the rise, again, despite training 6 days a week.