Do you think I am overtraining?

[karenvictoria]

I work out six days a week for about an hour and a half a day. My schedule goes as follows: Sun- gym stlye with 30 min of cardio, Tues 60 min cardio and 20 min stretch, Wed- gym style with 30 min of cardio, Thurs- 60 min of cardio 20 min of stretch, Fri- gymstyle 30 min of cardio, Sat- Rest Sun - 60 min total body 20 min of cardio. This just rotates using either pymarids, gym style or slow and heavy. I also have an ab workout in there about 5 days a week. My question is when is it overtraining? Do I need the extra 20 min of cardio at the end of the gym stlye workouts? Does anyone even think the extra cardio is doing me any good? I either run or do a step portion of a tape on an 8' step to get my heart rate up. I didn't post this over on the question for rotations because I really just want to find out what is overtraing? And do I fall in that catagory. I began to add the extra cardio about 6 months ago to increase fat loss. Just to let you know I am 5'7 142lbs and my bf% is 15%. Please forgive me if this is in the wrong forum. Do I need to keep the pace I am at to maintain now that I began this, or can I drop the cardio on the gym stlye days. Am I really doing anything extra for myself by adding it in or am I hurting myself by doing cardio after lifting heavy. Thanks for any replies and help. Karen.

 

[CurlyQ]

Your body will tell you when you're overtraining. You're schedule doesn't look too intense but you definitely want to switch it up every 4-6 weeks to avoid staleness (which is a symptom of overtraining). You're body fat % is fantanstic but I wouldn't go any lower with it - you must be extremely cut, I'm jealous - I'd maybe cut down on cardio to 2-3/wk and just up the time, maybe M,W,F 45-60 min cardio, S,T,TH Gym style.

Some symptoms of overtraining:
Fatigue
Sickness or infections
Mood swings
Insomnia
Lost desire to exercise (staleness)
Decrease in performance

 

[karenvictoria]

I don't have any of those symptoms which is good. I love working out, but don't want to feel like I am doing all of this and I shouldn't be. Thanks for responding and I really am going to do what you say and up the cardio on those days. What got me started on this was that I read somewhere( can't remember where) that you should not do cardio after weights. I personally think that you can ,but I am not an expert and was wondering if I am doing something I shouldn't be doing. I went on slow and heavy for about six weeks with great results and now I am doing gym stlye to mix it up a bit. I am going into my third week and then back to slow and heavy because I love it so much. Thanks again! Karen

 

[Fitnessfreak366]

Hi Karen! I agree with Curlyq's comments. You will experience all that was listed if you are overtraining, which I don't think you are. Just do what feels good for you body, with 15% body fat, you are doing something right!!! I'm at 22% and am shooting for 15-17%. Good going!!!
Debbie in OH

 

[macska]

Start tracking your resting heartrate -- first number in the morning before you get out of bed. When it goes up with seemingly no reason and you experience some symptoms of overtraining then maybe you need an extra day off or an easy day. Mari