Best Not To Overtrain

Overtraining is very common when it comes to exercise.  We are taught that more is better. This is not true.   If you perform too many reps and sets of an exercise the muscle cell will turn off.  You could be feeling good and working through the sets, then all of a sudden the muscle group that you are working gets cold and loses the “pumped” feeling.  Once this feeling occurs it is time to stop the exercise. What is happening is the blood is being cleared out by stress chemicals, forcing the muscle cells to shutdown. This is a way to protect the tissue from further damage. The motor units are overstimulated– overtonis.

There is a fine line between proper training and overtraining.  One big mistake is when an over zealot lifter keeps adding exercises, reps and sets to their routine. They might be feeling super energized on monday and add a lot more intensity to the routine.  They end up working out for 2-3 hours.  They continue this pattern throughout the week. By the end of the week they are rundown, exhausted and have trouble maintaining a pump.  This will eventually result in a chronic fatigued state.  The muscles will appear stringy and flat.  Appetite will lessen and dysentery may develop.

It is important to know when to stop exercising when you achieve the pump.  Do not continue lifting even if you feel like you could do a few more reps and sets. It is better to leave the gym pumped up and full of an endorphin rush.

Daryl Conant, M.Ed

tags: daryl conant, ron kosloff, vince gironda, overtraining, diet EARTH, InVINCEable, Buff DADDY