Am I overtraining

[acatalina]

Ok ladies I need some help.
I have been doing cathe for about 2 months.
I was a firm user.
I did the intensity series this week.
Yesterday imax 2 and core 2nd segment.( I made it through)
Pyramids upper night lower in am.
Low max day before.
Cardio w weights
Gym style 3 previous days.
Sunday I felt like i was speeding all day, then got a big headache.
I am so sore today.
I am trying desperately to get in great shape.
I am taking a break today.(maybe)
Am I overdoing it?
My cardio capacity needs built . The firm didn't do alot of cardio.
Should i lighten up?
After having this planters wart removed I am just now able to do the jumping.
It was like painful to do the cardio so I heavied the weights.
I know after work tonite I will feel guilty and be back down stairs.
Do you guys take a full day off.
I know if i go to do a stretch dvd i will pop in another one.
Help!!!!!!!





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[pink_fortitude]

I would say yes, you are definately overtraining. It is VERY important to give your body a day of rest. (Even God needed a day of rest, and he is God!) If your body has no time to recover and heal, you are only going to damage it. Doing too much (like both of the Pyramids in one day) is going to shut your body down and get you even further from your goals of weightloss and toned muscles. Doing too much is also hard on your heart. It would be a good idea if you didn't work the same muscle group more than 2x per week. It is also a good idea to vary up your high intensity and low intensity workouts and make sure that you drink plenty of water.

I found a couple of links on overtraining:

http://www.time-to-run.com/training/articles/recovery.htm

overtrained.http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/overtraining/ has a few links

I understand your wanting too see results, believe me I do! I know that it is frustrating to have to wait to see your hard work pay off. And Cathe is quite addicting!

Missy

 

[lorajc]

Missy - I have a question -- Your post got me thinking. Isn't each person's tolerance to exercise difference? This is the impression I was under anyway. I know there are a LOT of people on this Forum that exercise twice a day and some people exercise up to 3 hours per day. I would think that this would be considered overtraining, but from what I read on this Forum, I am confused. Right now I only workout 1 to 1.5 hours per day and reading all of the checkins and seeing how much others do, always makes me feel like I should be pushing harder. I'm just posting here cuz you seem educated and I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.

Also, is it true that the higher intensity sessions you do, the more your body can handle and the more your body thinks it needs to respond? What I'm wondering (for example) is that if you did the August rotation (which was very difficult)would your body think it needs this type of intensity all of the time with the longer sessions, or does your body adapt when you go back to the less intense routine and still responds?

Does this make sense?

 

[kathryn]

I agree.
With weight training especially, your body needs time to recover (THAT'S when muscle growth and strength increases take place). If you don't give your body enough recovery time (at least a day between working the same body part, for example, upper body on Monday and Wednesday, Lower body on Tuesday and Thursday), you will wear yourself down and see no gains. Your body will see this as excessive stress, leading to a weakened immune system, illness, possible injury, and even retaining weight (which the body does in times of stress).

YOur schedule has a LOT of working the same muscle group two or even more days in a row.

When I did the Gym Styles, I did one upper body Monday, the lower body Wednesday, and the other upper body Friday, with cardio days in between.

When I do Pyramids, I do each one two times a week (say, upper on Monday and Thursday, Lower on Tuesday and Friday), with cardio days in between.

To increase your cardio capacity, do an interval workout like IMAX2 once a week (with no other workout that day).

My recommendation: alternate days of cardio and strength, don't work the same body part two days in a row (that includes "cardio and weights" workouts as well a pure strength), cut down to ONE workout a day, with, after a while, MAYBE two workouts one day a week.

BUT, right now you need to give your body a break. Cut back, do moderate workouts at most, only about 3 days a week, for a week. Add stretching. Eat well and get lots of rest (including naps!).

Once you've given your body a break, get back into a more balanced routine(as I've outlined above).

YOu can't force the body to progress faster than it is meant to. If you do, something will give!

 

[amyg]

I haven't read lorajc or Kathryn's posts, but my bottom line is:

If you are asking the question if you are overtraining, YOU ARE OVERTRAINING.

It's such a risk, and with such a huge downside. What's the risk with taking a day off? Very little!!! I'm still paying, 2 years later, for my overtraining. Be careful!

 

[acatalina]

Thanks ladies.
Lots of good advice . I am exhausted today. I am taking a day off.
Thanks for the article sites ,some good articles.
I am just impatient. I want it and i want it now.
I am guessing the way i was feeling was because i was doing too much.
I forgot to mention I work 50-60 hrs a week also.
Tonite is going to be rent a movie and relax.
Thanks for all the great advice.
Anne