Overtraining?

How do i know if im overtraining? Today i did Week 4 of Ripped in 30, Week 1 workout 1 of Body Revolution, P90x Core Synergistics and a little bit of strength training (total of a little bit over two hours).

There are various reasons why i'm doubling up my workout (extra cookie, 1st monday of the month, etc) but its primarily because i havent really been losing much weight for 2 weeks now so i had to make sure i'm still on my deficit.

Any thoughts?

Replies

  • BigGuy47
    BigGuy47 Posts: 1,768 Member
    I try to keep my exercise to about an hour. If I stall on the weight loss I make adjustments to my diet, the exercise routine remains the same.

    Overtraining is doing too much, not enough rest, not enough calories over a sustained period of time. What you're describing sounds like you pushed yourself hard for one day. Nothing wrong with that, however it may not be a sustainable plan in the long term.
  • 89nunu
    89nunu Posts: 1,082 Member
    I don't think you will be overtraining from 2 hours one day. If you would do this every day for months and switch some lifting for heavy lifting you could get worried but as long as you give your muscles 48 hours to recover (cardio everyday is completely alright) and take a day off every week you should be fine. Just listen to your body, once you start feeling tired all the time you should either do less or eat more
  • KateK8LoseW8
    KateK8LoseW8 Posts: 824 Member
    I mean, it very much depends on you, your eating, and the intensity of your workouts. I started Insanity this past week, and it's so intense that all I can do outside of it is some walking and yoga, averaging 1.5-2 hours of exercise. Before I started Insanity, running and bike was my primary workout, and because it was lower intensity, I was able to do 3+ hours. Two hours is perfectly fine as long as you are eating enough, resting when your body needs it, and not exercising to the point of complete exhaustion (and I mean complete; unable to complete normal daily tasks point of exhaustion).
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    It depends. It's a subject that I was curious about myself last year, and this is probably the best write up I've found.

    This is a link to Part 1 of an 8 part series by Lyle McDonald.

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/overtraining-overreaching-and-all-the-rest-part-1.html
  • nboks
    nboks Posts: 41
    I'm planning to do JM's Body Revolution and a hybrid of P90X/Turbofire (through a custom calendar i found online). I just find JM's Body Rev to be a bit too easy at least for the 1st week so I wanted to add more workouts.

    I'm mostly worried about destroying the muscle confusion concept since both sets of workouts look like they target specific sets of muscles per day.
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    I'm planning to do JM's Body Revolution and a hybrid of P90X/Turbofire (through a custom calendar i found online). I just find JM's Body Rev to be a bit too easy at least for the 1st week so I wanted to add more workouts.

    I'm mostly worried about destroying the muscle confusion concept since both sets of workouts look like they target specific sets of muscles per day.

    There is no such thing as "muscle confusion."
  • nboks
    nboks Posts: 41
    I'm planning to do JM's Body Revolution and a hybrid of P90X/Turbofire (through a custom calendar i found online). I just find JM's Body Rev to be a bit too easy at least for the 1st week so I wanted to add more workouts.

    I'm mostly worried about destroying the muscle confusion concept since both sets of workouts look like they target specific sets of muscles per day.

    There is no such thing as "muscle confusion."

    Care to explain please
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    I'm planning to do JM's Body Revolution and a hybrid of P90X/Turbofire (through a custom calendar i found online). I just find JM's Body Rev to be a bit too easy at least for the 1st week so I wanted to add more workouts.

    I'm mostly worried about destroying the muscle confusion concept since both sets of workouts look like they target specific sets of muscles per day.

    There is no such thing as "muscle confusion."

    Care to explain please

    I honestly think that "muscle confusion" is a term that fitness magazines, video workout producers, and personal trainers use as a sales tool so they can sell new programs. Switching programs isn't going to make you stronger unless you get on a truly "better" program that better matches your specific goals than the one you may be currently on, but most of these are really cardio programs anyway with some very limited strength training. A new program will make you better at that program over time, and of course worse at the old program over that same period. That gives the illusion that you have successfully "switched up your program" and improved.

    Put another way, it is true that your muscles adapt to the stress you put them under, but that is exactly what you want. If you are concerned with plateauing in terms of muscle build/strength, then you need to get yourself on a regular program that incorporates progressive overload (slowly and methodically increasing the stress/loads that your are putting on your muscles). Keep to consistent training over time, slowly increase the loads, and you will get bigger and/or stronger depending on your goals and program.

    Of course this all depends on your goals.
  • nboks
    nboks Posts: 41
    I'm planning to do JM's Body Revolution and a hybrid of P90X/Turbofire (through a custom calendar i found online). I just find JM's Body Rev to be a bit too easy at least for the 1st week so I wanted to add more workouts.

    I'm mostly worried about destroying the muscle confusion concept since both sets of workouts look like they target specific sets of muscles per day.

    There is no such thing as "muscle confusion."

    Care to explain please

    I honestly think that "muscle confusion" is a term that fitness magazines, video workout producers, and personal trainers use as a sales tool so they can sell new programs. Switching programs isn't going to make you stronger unless you get on a truly "better" program that better matches your specific goals than the one you may be currently on, but most of these are really cardio programs anyway with some very limited strength training. A new program will make you better at that program over time, and of course worse at the old program over that same period. That gives the illusion that you have successfully "switched up your program" and improved.

    Put another way, it is true that your muscles adapt to the stress you put them under, but that is exactly what you want. If you are concerned with plateauing in terms of muscle build/strength, then you need to get yourself on a regular program that incorporates progressive overload (slowly and methodically increasing the stress/loads that your are putting on your muscles). Keep to consistent training over time, slowly increase the loads, and you will get bigger and/or stronger depending on your goals and program.

    Of course this all depends on your goals.

    Thanks for the replies, you have been really helpful. Just to note, I am really interested in doing progressive overload and weight training but I'm still unsure if its the right time for me to switch from cutting to bulking. I still have some left-over fat on my tummy that i'm trying really hard to burn but I know that eventually I will have to work on gaining more strength/muscle mass within the year.
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    I'm planning to do JM's Body Revolution and a hybrid of P90X/Turbofire (through a custom calendar i found online). I just find JM's Body Rev to be a bit too easy at least for the 1st week so I wanted to add more workouts.

    I'm mostly worried about destroying the muscle confusion concept since both sets of workouts look like they target specific sets of muscles per day.

    There is no such thing as "muscle confusion."

    Care to explain please

    I honestly think that "muscle confusion" is a term that fitness magazines, video workout producers, and personal trainers use as a sales tool so they can sell new programs. Switching programs isn't going to make you stronger unless you get on a truly "better" program that better matches your specific goals than the one you may be currently on, but most of these are really cardio programs anyway with some very limited strength training. A new program will make you better at that program over time, and of course worse at the old program over that same period. That gives the illusion that you have successfully "switched up your program" and improved.

    Put another way, it is true that your muscles adapt to the stress you put them under, but that is exactly what you want. If you are concerned with plateauing in terms of muscle build/strength, then you need to get yourself on a regular program that incorporates progressive overload (slowly and methodically increasing the stress/loads that your are putting on your muscles). Keep to consistent training over time, slowly increase the loads, and you will get bigger and/or stronger depending on your goals and program.

    Of course this all depends on your goals.

    Thanks for the replies, you have been really helpful. Just to note, I am really interested in doing progressive overload and weight training but I'm still unsure if its the right time for me to switch from cutting to bulking. I still have some left-over fat on my tummy that i'm trying really hard to burn but I know that eventually I will have to work on gaining more strength/muscle mass within the year.

    No worries. Note that weight lifting for a bulk is no different than weight lifting for a cut, with the exception that you will back off on volume during a cut because you are providing your body with less in the way of nutrition so it can't repair itself as quickly and fully as on a bulk. So, again, the program doesn't need to change. Some people will switch to a 3 day a week program from a 4, for example, or simply work in fewer sets. You still need to work very hard in a cut because you want to maintain as much mass as possible, and you will most certainly lose more if you back off too far. Also, if you are new to weight lifting then you may benefit from some limited "newbie gains" and you want as much of that as you can get (though it won't be much unless you are very genetically gifted).

    The fat comes off solely because of a calorie deficit, not your program. Your lean mass remains through a combination of strength training and sufficient protein.
  • nboks
    nboks Posts: 41
    I'm planning to do JM's Body Revolution and a hybrid of P90X/Turbofire (through a custom calendar i found online). I just find JM's Body Rev to be a bit too easy at least for the 1st week so I wanted to add more workouts.

    I'm mostly worried about destroying the muscle confusion concept since both sets of workouts look like they target specific sets of muscles per day.

    There is no such thing as "muscle confusion."

    Care to explain please

    I honestly think that "muscle confusion" is a term that fitness magazines, video workout producers, and personal trainers use as a sales tool so they can sell new programs. Switching programs isn't going to make you stronger unless you get on a truly "better" program that better matches your specific goals than the one you may be currently on, but most of these are really cardio programs anyway with some very limited strength training. A new program will make you better at that program over time, and of course worse at the old program over that same period. That gives the illusion that you have successfully "switched up your program" and improved.

    Put another way, it is true that your muscles adapt to the stress you put them under, but that is exactly what you want. If you are concerned with plateauing in terms of muscle build/strength, then you need to get yourself on a regular program that incorporates progressive overload (slowly and methodically increasing the stress/loads that your are putting on your muscles). Keep to consistent training over time, slowly increase the loads, and you will get bigger and/or stronger depending on your goals and program.

    Of course this all depends on your goals.

    Thanks for the replies, you have been really helpful. Just to note, I am really interested in doing progressive overload and weight training but I'm still unsure if its the right time for me to switch from cutting to bulking. I still have some left-over fat on my tummy that i'm trying really hard to burn but I know that eventually I will have to work on gaining more strength/muscle mass within the year.

    No worries. Note that weight lifting for a bulk is no different than weight lifting for a cut, with the exception that you will back off on volume during a cut because you are providing your body with less in the way of nutrition so it can't repair itself as quickly and fully as on a bulk. So, again, the program doesn't need to change. Some people will switch to a 3 day a week program from a 4, for example, or simply work in fewer sets. You still need to work very hard in a cut because you want to maintain as much mass as possible, and you will most certainly lose more if you back off too far. Also, if you are new to weight lifting then you may benefit from some limited "newbie gains" and you want as much of that as you can get (though it won't be much unless you are very genetically gifted).

    The fat comes off solely because of a calorie deficit, not your program. Your lean mass remains through a combination of strength training and sufficient protein.

    Thanks again, one last question before I flood the thread with too many replies, Whats your opinion on a commercial program like Body Beast which focuses on gaining muscles. I was planning on following this program once I start doing serious lifting at the gym.
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    I'm planning to do JM's Body Revolution and a hybrid of P90X/Turbofire (through a custom calendar i found online). I just find JM's Body Rev to be a bit too easy at least for the 1st week so I wanted to add more workouts.

    I'm mostly worried about destroying the muscle confusion concept since both sets of workouts look like they target specific sets of muscles per day.

    There is no such thing as "muscle confusion."

    Care to explain please

    I honestly think that "muscle confusion" is a term that fitness magazines, video workout producers, and personal trainers use as a sales tool so they can sell new programs. Switching programs isn't going to make you stronger unless you get on a truly "better" program that better matches your specific goals than the one you may be currently on, but most of these are really cardio programs anyway with some very limited strength training. A new program will make you better at that program over time, and of course worse at the old program over that same period. That gives the illusion that you have successfully "switched up your program" and improved.

    Put another way, it is true that your muscles adapt to the stress you put them under, but that is exactly what you want. If you are concerned with plateauing in terms of muscle build/strength, then you need to get yourself on a regular program that incorporates progressive overload (slowly and methodically increasing the stress/loads that your are putting on your muscles). Keep to consistent training over time, slowly increase the loads, and you will get bigger and/or stronger depending on your goals and program.

    Of course this all depends on your goals.

    Thanks for the replies, you have been really helpful. Just to note, I am really interested in doing progressive overload and weight training but I'm still unsure if its the right time for me to switch from cutting to bulking. I still have some left-over fat on my tummy that i'm trying really hard to burn but I know that eventually I will have to work on gaining more strength/muscle mass within the year.

    No worries. Note that weight lifting for a bulk is no different than weight lifting for a cut, with the exception that you will back off on volume during a cut because you are providing your body with less in the way of nutrition so it can't repair itself as quickly and fully as on a bulk. So, again, the program doesn't need to change. Some people will switch to a 3 day a week program from a 4, for example, or simply work in fewer sets. You still need to work very hard in a cut because you want to maintain as much mass as possible, and you will most certainly lose more if you back off too far. Also, if you are new to weight lifting then you may benefit from some limited "newbie gains" and you want as much of that as you can get (though it won't be much unless you are very genetically gifted).

    The fat comes off solely because of a calorie deficit, not your program. Your lean mass remains through a combination of strength training and sufficient protein.

    Thanks again, one last question before I flood the thread with too many replies, Whats your opinion on a commercial program like Body Beast which focuses on gaining muscles. I was planning on following this program once I start doing serious lifting at the gym.

    My opinion? Honestly, just get on a lifting program. If that is where you want to go anyway, start there now. I don't have any knowledge of "Body Beast" other than what I just googled. It's basically $100 and a beachbody program with all their ridiculous claims. I mean, seriously, "Crush. Grow. Get the girls. With Body Beast?"

    For far less, you could go buy one of several books: "Starting Strength" by Mark Rippetoe, "Stronglifts 5 x 5," or Jim Wendler's "5/3/1" (using the beginner's program adjustments he includes), or "The New Rules of Lifting." My personal favorites are "Starting Strength" and "5/3/1" but many people on here are successful with their own favorites. These hammer on the basics rather than overcharging and over-promising.

    That said, it's not like Body Beast won't help you lose weight and get reasonably fit, I just question anything that is $100, and wants to sell you supplements in the process.

    Again, that's my opinion. Do what works for you, is as enjoyable as it can be in the process, and that you will stick to.
  • ewartluft
    ewartluft Posts: 79 Member
    bump to read later
  • phjorg1
    phjorg1 Posts: 642 Member
    It's very hard to overtrain. It's very easy to under sleep and under eat.