Do your legs ever get so fatigued that your performance sucks?

Francl27

My exercise routine has pretty much been the following for a few months...

4 days stationary bike for 45-90 minutes (15mph)
2 days gym - 15/20 minutes of rowing, 20 minutes weights (I do upper body to give my legs a break), 60 minutes walking at a 11%+ incline, 3.3 mph (which is relatively fast for me, I'm 5'5")
I try to alternate as much as possible, and take a rest day once a week.

Unfortunately it's been pretty bad lately. My legs have just been so fatigued, I can feel them just going up the stairs, and it's a good day when I can reach 15mph on the bike again (usually hover around 14mph)... I used to do 15.7mph! I used to do 14% incline on the treadmill (was working up to 15%) but now my legs can typically not do more than 11%, and that's on a good day... I had to go down to 9% two days ago... and it was just after a rest day too...

I'm so bummed. I don't understand why this is happening. 2 years ago I was walking every day, sometimes 6 miles a day, and didn't even need rest days (granted, I wasn't walking at an incline, but still). Rest days seem to be doing absolutely nothing... I do take the time to stretch after workouts.

Does it happen to you and what do you do about it? I exercise quite a bit because I just get bored otherwise, and I like eating, so it pretty much works out. I don't do lower body strength because my legs already do a lot obviously, and I like the way they look anyway (and yeah I hate it, I just do it to get my upper body muscles working too).

I eat a ton of protein (I'm 135 lbs right now, rarely eat under 135g of protein). Tons of veggies, lots of water...

Help?

Francl27

crazyravr wrote: »

Listen to your body. Rest days are important. You will perform much better when you give your body time to heal itself.

It just doesn't seem to help. Heck I got two rest days last week, it didn't help either. Do I need to take a whole week off or something? Gosh. So annoying.

coreyreichle

Yes.

Typical symptom of overtraining. Every day has some training for your legs. 45-90 minutes of biking, 60 minutes of walking on an incline (A tough incline, at that), 15-20 minutes of rowing, etc etc.

Reduce the intensity of the walk (no, or little incline) would be a good start. Also, you're nailing 90 minutes a day at the gym, on average. This would be considered "advanced training schedule". I run daily, but only two days a week do I exercise for more than an hour (Long run days).

yesimpson

My routine is different to yours, but I do have days when my legs feel knackered. I suffer with anaemia so sometimes tiredness simply means I need to up my iron levels, or it can be because I've increased training volume or intensity and need a lighter day or two, or because I'm not eating enough. Sorting those issues out gets rid of the fatigue.

Sounds obvious, but I presume you don't feel like you're coming down with a bug or something, have been sleeping normally, etc? If it's persistent I'd be tempted to take a week off proper workouts and see if I feel better when I get back to it. Sometimes our minds get tired out and we blame our bodies.

ilex70

I second upping your carbs for what that is worth. Or just dialing back the exercise.

If you eat enough carbs (or if carbs are 30-to-60% of your diet) then your muscles will have enough energy to make you lift heavier weights, do more reps and sets to build muscle faster but…

If you don't eat enough carbs then you may not have the energy you need to workout with enough intensity to make your muscles bigger & stronger.

Francl27

I eat a ton of meat, I doubt I have anemia? I used to have it but it was before losing weight and I wasn't eating anywhere as much meat as I do now. And my last two bloodworks have been fine. And no I've actually been sleeping great (7-8 hours a night) and I surprisingly haven't been sick in 3 weeks LOL.

I eat plenty of carbs too... I've been eating around 130g in the last week as it helps me with PMS, but typically I eat 200g or more.

So yeah I guess I just need to take it easier. Bleh...

CasperNaegle

Just at the end of leg day! Hard to get in and out of the car!

cafeaulait7

It's not going to be this, but just in case, do take your pulse at rest and during exercise. The only time in recent years that I got weaker during exercise for no known reason was because of an autonomic glitch I got that has me taking beta blockers now. It came out of the blue, so that's the only reason I suggest doing some easy pulse checks for it (or other things that can cause exercise intolerance).

But it's probably something more training related If you feel it in your actual legs that does sound like the local muscles there, imho.

blues4miles

Sounds like overtraining.

That being said, why upper body lifting only? Full body lifting would probably be great for you. I find squats make my legs stronger for running.

Or could you try swimming instead of something else?

EvgeniZyntx

4 days biking + 2 days of 11% fast inclined walking?

That right there is your problem.

sijomial

You don't necessarily need to take it easier but you do need to give your legs more recovery time - six days a week isn't going to be offset by one rest day.
As an example I'm pushing my winter cycling training really hard at the moment but on alternate days.

Mix up the intensity rather than try to hit your maximum every day.

GiddyupTim

I think it is really common to get fatigued legs when you work them 6 days a week. And don't ignore the anemia suggestion. It is easy to get checked out and lots and lots of women are anemic, even red-meat eaters.

getsweaty123go

Magnesium/Potassium really helps with muscle fatigue & recovery & a good B12 complex will up your red blood cell count - and as someone above said: 6 days per week of working your legs will have an effect. Maybe try lowering your incline but to keep it challenging up your speed a little?

Cherimoose

kristib12 wrote: »

a good B12 complex will up your red blood cell count

Only if deficient in B12.. which the OP probably isn't since they eat a ton of meat.

OP - maybe you're not eating enough calories?

queenliz99

Cherimoose wrote: »

kristib12 wrote: »

a good B12 complex will up your red blood cell count

Only if deficient in B12.. which the OP probably isn't since they eat a ton of meat.

OP - maybe you're not eating enough calories?

Or carbs

auddii

Maybe try upping your carbs to help with recovery.

cafeaulait7

Cherimoose wrote: »

kristib12 wrote: »

a good B12 complex will up your red blood cell count

Only if deficient in B12.. which the OP probably isn't since they eat a ton of meat.

OP - maybe you're not eating enough calories?

Actually, the cell count is nice and high anyway with B12 deficiency anemia. It's just filled with duds

But yeah, B12 won't help your blood any unless you really are deficient in it, which usually doesn't come from diet at all.

zoeysasha37

It sounds like you have a bunch of issues going on ( see ops other threads ) and it may be worth talking to a doctor about.

Dnarules

coreyreichle wrote: »

Yes.

Typical symptom of overtraining. Every day has some training for your legs. 45-90 minutes of biking, 60 minutes of walking on an incline (A tough incline, at that), 15-20 minutes of rowing, etc etc.

Reduce the intensity of the walk (no, or little incline) would be a good start. Also, you're nailing 90 minutes a day at the gym, on average. This would be considered "advanced training schedule". I run daily, but only two days a week do I exercise for more than an hour (Long run days).

I agree with this. Plus, you recently posted a thread where you went lower carb during PMS. Does this correlate with that time period?

zoeysasha37

I was thinking about the sore legs thing. The only time I get sore legs is the day after leg day ? How heavy are you lifting ? Do you even lift at all or just do all that cardio?

getsweaty123go

cafeaulait7 wrote: »

Cherimoose wrote: »

kristib12 wrote: »

a good B12 complex will up your red blood cell count

Only if deficient in B12.. which the OP probably isn't since they eat a ton of meat.

OP - maybe you're not eating enough calories?

Actually, the cell count is nice and high anyway with B12 deficiency anemia. It's just filled with duds

But yeah, B12 won't help your blood any unless you really are deficient in it, which usually doesn't come from diet at all.

Ohh.. yes that is true it isn't usually about diet. I have always been anemic/borderline and find B12 really helps but then I have endometriosis. Definitely think the magnesium/potassium would help with muscle fatigue though, do you think?

stealthq

Yes to the fatigue. It takes more than a day to fully recover from running and lifting. Marathon programs actually take advantage of this (accumulated fatigue) to simulate running farther than you're actually going.

When I've let too much build up, my legs feel heavy. Not bad, just like it takes twice the effort to get them to move.

Fixes are one or more of: more food, more sleep, more rest days.

MeanderingMammal

Sounds like cumulative fatigue/ overtraining.

That's a lot of CV work and very limited resistance work.

What are you aiming to gain from your training? It's a lot of time in the gym for no clear outcome, so you could probably benefit from a more structured approach that builds in recovery and work periods that have a clearer purpose.

slimandsmiling

When I was eating less carbs and less protein I was getting heavy legs.some days I would go out to run and felt like I could only just walk. Although I have put on 8lbs now..when I run I feel a lot more able. I am also not running so much. I am walking a biking to work 4 days at most.that is only 5miles of biking but around 15000 walking steps with quite a few up hill. Listen to your body pushing through May not be the answer...have two rest days. Rest..sleep. do your legs hurt when you sleep? Just a thought.xx

Machka9

Do your legs ever get so fatigued that your performance sucks?

Yep.

I cycled a 200 kilometre randonnee on Saturday 30 January. That's 200 kilometres within 13.5 hours, and we did it in about 11.5 hours, including all breaks, of course.

Sunday, my legs were pretty fatigued and we did just a bit of a walk.

Even Monday, I only managed 25 flights of stairs and a short walk because they were still fatigued.

But by the next Sunday I cycled 84.5 km and was fine.

Machka9

In your case I would suggest doing two things:

1) I presume you know your resting heart rate ... your heart rate before you get out of bed in the morning? Check it again now and if it is significantly higher, you're probably overtraining. For example, if your usual resting HR is 55 and now it is 75, that's a good sign you're over training.

2) Go to the Dr for a complete physical. Ask for a full set of bloodwork including for diabetes, thyroid, all the vitamins and minerals, etc. etc. etc. It's good to get all these things checked now and then.

Cryptonomnomicon

Great article explaining fatigue, including cumulative fatigue.

http://www.jtsstrength.com/articles/2013/09/27/fatigue-explained/

Francl27

Thanks all. To answer a few random questions - no it's been going on for months, not just the last couple weeks, and I do get a physical every year with bloodwork, and I had one in September (it was already happening then).

I've taken a few 3/4 days break because I got sick a few times since though. I haven't been sick in 2 months now so maybe that's why it's worse?

And I don't really have goals... I like eating, so I'm just trying to burn calories... lol. I've actually gained a couple pounds since November so I'm definitely eating enough (although I've been back at a deficit for the last 4 weeks, but probably just enough to lose 1 or 2 pounds.. not sure yet, TOM just started).

Swimming is pretty much out because my form sucks and it's actually doing more damage than good, and I can't be in water 2 weeks a month anyway because.. female issues (I know some women still find ways, but I've tried and it's a big nope).

So... just take it easy for a few days (can't really take it easier on the bike as I'm already at low intensity)? Or just take a few days off? I did some treadmill yesterday but only at 8% (which is really not a strain for me at this point).

WinoGelato

So swim the two weeks that you aren't having female issues.... And seriously, two weeks? You can't get in a pool for two weeks? Women fight in wars, compete in the Olympics, work strenuous jobs, etc. Do you think they take two weeks off every month because of woman time holding them back? No. They use an appropriate feminine hygiene product and they suck it up. If you enjoy swimming, or any activity for that matter, your menstruation should not be a reason not to participate. This is the 21st century and being held back from doing something because of your period seems a little silly...

lemurcat12

I'd take 2-3 days off from the gym. Walk around and stuff, but nothing hard.

I'd also track sleep, as you don't recover as well if you aren't getting enough sleep, and I like Machka's idea of monitoring morning heart rate as that (and sleep issues that are new) are signs of overtraining/inadequate recovery.

snickerscharlie

Francl27 wrote: »

I can't be in water 2 weeks a month anyway because.. female issues (I know some women still find ways, but I've tried and it's a big nope).

WinoGelato wrote: »

So swim the two weeks that you aren't having female issues.... And seriously, two weeks? You can't get in a pool for two weeks? Women fight in wars, compete in the Olympics, work strenuous jobs, etc. Do you think they take two weeks off every month because of woman time holding them back? No. They use an appropriate feminine hygiene product and they suck it up. If you enjoy swimming, or any activity for that matter, your menstruation should not be a reason not to participate. This is the 21st century and being held back from doing something because of your period seems a little silly...

...or else it's an excuse.

Two weeks out of every four? Seriously? There might be a day or maybe two in there where heavy menstrual flow *might* be an issue, but 14 days? Every single month? Yikes!