Overtraining .....Have you?

[hybrid1]

Have you ever had a problem with overtraining? If so how do you know? I have heard people say they get tired, trouble sleeping, can't get motivated etc.

How do you know? Do most of you train a body part only once per week? Just curious....

[syphonfilter]

I think the longer you train, the more you get to know your body. Overtraining, at least for me, involves, an overall fatigued feeling. A desire to not go to the gym, my muscles sore, a feeling of laziness. It involves, lack of appetite, stale workouts and decreased poundages in your lifts.

In essence it's a total systemic overload in which your body cries out for rest and relaxation and recovery time. It's always better to slightly undertrain, than overtrain.

When I die I want to go like my grandfather, peacefully, in my sleep, not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

[unclocked]

what are some of the bad things of overtraning and will it stop growth? or will you just not get any strong but still grow ?? do you really need a one day rest in between <img src="http://boards.elitefitness.com/forum/images/smilies/magilicuti.gif" alt="TheMyth" width="41" height="36"><!--graemlin::themyth:-->

[hybrid1]

The reason I ask is sometimes I end up 5 days straight of lifing then 3 off. BTW Syphonfilter.....LMAO at your signature...Gotta love grandpa

[syphonfilter]

Hey bro, if you can train intensely and with good progress for five days, then by God you need those three days off to recover. I've been training for 17 years and despite some people's opinion on the matter, time off from the gym is far more important than time spent at the gym in relation to growth. I listen to my body and my mind, in that order, as to when I return to the gym. If I don't feel like I've recovered in 2, 3, or even 4 days after a session, I don't go to the gym. It may kill me in my mind to not be hittin the iron, but I know my body, and I know that for me to do justice to the muscles I need to be recovered, especially after squatting or deadlifting. Just remember, as I'm sure you already know, the gym is the facilitator of growth, but at home, resting, recuperating, is when the growth occurs.

Oh and thanks for the sig compliment Hybrid, it's one of my favorites. <img src="http://www.massmonsters.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->

When I die I want to go like my grandfather, peacefully, in my sleep, not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

[hybrid1]

Thanks Syphon......I was reading where folks had been mentioning pplmight be overtraining and I wasn't sure. I have never had the "down's" but I kinda feel like the movie Roadhouse once in a while.....ya know " I thought you'd be bigger" when I look in the mirror.

[syphonfilter]

LOL, Bro, I think there are very few of us who can look in the mirror and say "Ya know what, I really am satisfied with the size I have and the way I look." Hell, you'll hardly see the size you put on, till the day you run into that guy you haven't seen in a while and he says, "Holy shit, you got big." Even then you won't think so, lol.

When I die I want to go like my grandfather, peacefully, in my sleep, not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

[web]

another question:
I train everyday but sunday. I work certain muscle groups one day, then other muscle groups the next. I switch back and forth every other day. - the assumption is that it takes one full day for the muscle to heal, etc.

would it be better to train all muscles every other day?

...lets look at bodypart overlapping.
Mon: Chest
Tue: Back
Wed: off
Thu: Leg
Fri: Delt/Arms

Benching will also hit the Lats, the arch will hit the Lower-Back and Delts taxed hard.
Flyes will also work the Biceps/Delts.
When the Back day starts, will you be 100%?
Deadlifts will Tax head to toe, are you rested enough to get the full benefit?
Pulldowns(f)will be taxing your Chest/Delts
BO-Rows will tax the Lumbars/Bis/Delts all of which might still be stessed from Chest day.

Wed begin real recovery. Lot of catching up to do though.

Leg Day, will the leftover soreness from Back be a factor? Unless you're Mid cycle I bet it will. Can over-taxed Traps/Delts/Lumbars handle Squats & StiffDeads? Begining to see the point?
Delts&Arms, Traps are shot, Rear & Medials are prolly half recovered. Bi's might be OK but without the Delt involvement, anything other than preachers wont be very productive. Tri's might be ready, but Chest Day on Monday may suffer if you train hard.
Try a 3day a week M-W-F program for a few weeks, especially after a long run of 4day or 5day training. Plan around keeping the overlap to a bare minimum. May I suggest:

Mon: Deadlift/Chin/Hammer or supported Rows/Inclined Shrug

Wed: Bench Press/Military Press/Dips (Weighted)

Fri: Squats/SLDL or Lying LegCurls/High Rep LegPress/Standing or Seated LegCurls

If you must Curl for Bis, try after Legs since Back day will be super taxing and 2days of recovery til Back's up again. Abs any day other than Back and always after work sets.

Nobody tells me what to do.....Not even ME

[dark_catt]

I get flu like symptoms cold chills nausea. I almost feel like i am pregnant. Damn me and my girlfriend should go to the enquirer i could make a buck. Needless to say i do it when i get stubborn or incorporate too much cardio. If you feel like to are dragging ass and don't feel rested no matter what then you might be there. Sleep caffine, eat well and get laid it works for me

Religon is for people who are afraid to go to hell. Spiritualism is for those of us who have been there!!!!!!!