Am I Overtraining?

irunsf85

I am considering adding a lunch time workout at the gym to my workout routine. Was wondering if you guys think I'm overtraining and skip the lunch time workout. Here are the details:

Mon am: Run 4 miles mod/easy pace
Tues am: Run 3 miles at fast pace and 30 min strength training
Wednesday am: 8 miles at mod/easy pace
Thurs: 5 miles moderate pace
Friday am: 45 min cardio and 45 min strength training (low weights, high reps)
Saturday am: 12+ miles easy pace
Sunday: Rest

For my afternoon workouts, I'm thinking maybe 2-3x a week with 20 mins cardio and 10 mins strength training.

I'm 5'2", 120 lbs, and eating 1600-1700 cals. If adding exercise, should I also increase cals?

nutritionwhiz

Are you specifically training for something?

I think the important thing to keep in mind is can you maintain your workout schedule long term?

I think your calories look low already for what you are doing.....this schedule looks like it would put you in the active category....so yes you would probably need to increase calories if you add more.

Also, keep in mind rest days for strength training. You already lift 2x per week so if you add another 2-3x per week that could leave only 2 days a week for repair.

Hope this helps!

Greenrun99

With the amount of cardio you are doing I would highly recommend getting something to track your calorie burn cause at the exercise level your doing you are probably eating below your BMR if your just eating 1600-1700.. just taking a guess if your BMR is 1400 thats a simple 200 calorie workout.. if you add 2 a days for your workouts I would suggest eating 2000+ calories depending on your #'s from the calculators.... there is really no reason to go to the gym twice in one day unless you are tight on time, or you like to people watch, or your training for something..

31prvrbs

Are you specifically training for something?

I think the important thing to keep in mind is can you maintain your workout schedule long term?

I think your calories look low already for what you are doing.....this schedule looks like it would put you in the active category....so yes you would probably need to increase calories if you add more.

Also, keep in mind rest days for strength training. You already lift 2x per week so if you add another 2-3x per week that could leave only 2 days a week for repair.

Hope this helps!

ITA. That is already a LOT of activity, and a seemingly low amount of cals. For reference, we have similar stats, but I eat more than you. I'm 5'2, 125-130 lbs, lift 3 days, cardio 2-3, and I eat 1900 cal for cut.

You will quickly reach overtraining at that pace, and then you won't be able to run, which I know you enjoy. So I wouldn't push it.


~Kiki

irunsf85

Are you specifically training for something?

I am training for a half marathon at the end of July and a marathon in November. I do intend to keep up with this training schedule in the long run but maybe cut back on the miles I run during the off season. I have only recently become active since the beginning of the year and ever since then, I haven't been able to keep myself from slowing down. I think I'm addicted to the endorphins or something!

Okay. Perhaps I will cut back on the afternoon cardios and keep to cross training on Fridays and strengthening 2x week.

I think one of the reasons why I want to be so active is that I feel like I need to make up for the rest of the day where I work a desk job and for Saturdays where I am pretty much sedentary after my long runs.. And also for Sunday, where it's a total rest day.

Oh, and I did have my RMR measured and it was 1470 (Kiki, you already know this.) After discussing my training goals, not including lunch workouts, the nutritionist put me on a 1700 cal goal, which is still a 500 cal deficit. I think part of my past VLCD behavior is fearful that perhaps she's overestimating the calories I burn during workouts and that's also why I need to add more exercise? I dunno.. I'm really a mental nutcase but I think a lot of it comes from just past history of dieting and what's been engrained in me.