Thoughts on Overtraining

[sparrow]

Hey All:

So I think I am overtraining. I have several of the indicators (rapid heart rate, tired but not sleeping, etc). Also, I did not take either of the two rest weeks I usually take during the year, one of which should have been this summer but I had so many parties, weddings and social events that I wanted to look and feel my best at all of them. Psychologocally I feel pretty good, though, not loathing my workouts or anything. It's more my body that is feeling it. (I am on my last week of a three week S&H rotation and I'm dead!) Still, I don't want to take time off right now. I'm going away for almost two weeks in October, and will do little to none exercising, save for hiking maybe. I really don't know how to approach this dilemma. Any thoughts from the wise members of the Cathe board?

Sparrow


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[Maximus]

I say take the rest week. You'll feel so much better & stronger when you get back. I did it in May, & believe me it really killed me to do it, but after I was glad I did.

 

[MSJ]

I'd take the rest week too. You'll still have plenty of time for working out hard before your October vacation.

I'm pregnant and decided not to take any rest weeks (I usually take them every 10-12 weeks) because I am so freaked out about gaining back all the weight I lost. BIG MISTAKE--I over did it and tweaked my lower back. Now I'm taking a rest week because I have to, not because I want to. I hope my back feels better in a week because otherwise I'll have to take even more time off (Yikes!)

Best of luck with your decision.

Maggie

 

[clareMc]

I agree. Take the rest week now, now is when you need it. You aren't going to lose fitness gains in a week, and you will gain in energy. Take the break: you have nothing to prove to anyone. Treat yourself with kindness.

Clare

 

[andtckrtoo]

I'm going to have to agree with everyone else. Take that week, and start back in. You don't want to get to the point where you actually harm yourself.

 

[Boybert]

yup, I agree with everybody. I know psychologically it is so hard to let your body take a break, but it is your body telling you to rest. You will be stronger and ready to face your workouts when you return.


"you miss 100% of the shots you never take"

Debbie

 

[Timber99]

Yup, take the rest week and come back hitting those workouts hard until your vacation. It's the best option b/c otherwise, you can injure and we *don't* want that!

Have a great vacation!

 

[gogigi]

Since doing Cathe's August Boot Camp Rotation I started taking rest days when I needed it and a couple of times I took 2 rest days in a row!!! I just picked right up where I left off in the rotation. I have three more workouts to go until I'm finished. Before I would workout 6 days in a row and rest on the 7th day. Now, I'm thinking I will definitely be listening to my body more and taking a rest day when it dictates or when my schedule dictates instead of making myself wait until the 7th day. I'm less stressed out about working out and I'm disciplined enough to not let one or two rest days turn into a month of resting...tee hee. So, I would say maybe you should consider taking a rest day here and there in your workout week to prevent future burnout.
Angela:7

 

[kathryn]

Definitely take a light week (not necessarily "total rest from working out", but a stretch and light workout week, some "NON-power yoga," with more days off than usual).

You may not psychologically feel like taking a week off, but your body is certainly telling you to! LISTEN TO IT!!

And remember, muscle grows from RECOVERY after being stressed. I'll even bet you'll see some progress during your recovery, since you've been doing S&H.

And better to take a beneficial and needed week off now than to be forced to take off several weeks later because of severe overtraining or illness (the immune system is compromised when you overtrain), or to be dragging for weeks because you never got the recovery you needed.