Loss of Energy and Focus from Overtraining
It's a simple equation to reach your fitness goals, Hard Workout + Good Diet = Positive Results. So it makes mathematical sense that increasing the time in the gym would increase the positive results, right?
A common problem that many fitness gurus and gym rats face is overtraining, which can be best described as an imbalance between your training and recovery. The mindset that the more hours invested in the gym the better the results can have detrimental effects not only on your body but also your mind.
Common signs of overtraining include:
Recovery from overtraining is fairly simple - just rest. Your body needs time to rebuild muscle tissue. Sitting idle can be as strenuous to an athlete as an extended workout as feelings of guilt and anxiety for interrupting their regimen are common. But you need to remind yourself that recovery is needed to build strength, increase stamina and boost speed. It's also a misconception that the fitter you are the less time is needed to recover. As your workouts become more advanced, you are going to need more time to recover.
As your body recovers you'll regain that focus, energy and motivation to get back to the regimen. As important as it is to stick to a regimen at the gym, you need to incorporate a regimen of R&R. Take it from a team of health buffs and competition fanatics, we are telling you it is, in fact, OK to skip the workout today (probably even tomorrow), kick back in your recliner, and enjoy a slow, un-exhaustive evening.
A common problem that many fitness gurus and gym rats face is overtraining, which can be best described as an imbalance between your training and recovery. The mindset that the more hours invested in the gym the better the results can have detrimental effects not only on your body but also your mind.
Common signs of overtraining include:
- Loss of motivation
- Fatigue
- Muscle soreness
- Stiffness
- Irritability
- Prone to injuries
- Depression
- Decreased performance during workouts
- Sleep disturbances
Recovery from overtraining is fairly simple - just rest. Your body needs time to rebuild muscle tissue. Sitting idle can be as strenuous to an athlete as an extended workout as feelings of guilt and anxiety for interrupting their regimen are common. But you need to remind yourself that recovery is needed to build strength, increase stamina and boost speed. It's also a misconception that the fitter you are the less time is needed to recover. As your workouts become more advanced, you are going to need more time to recover.
As your body recovers you'll regain that focus, energy and motivation to get back to the regimen. As important as it is to stick to a regimen at the gym, you need to incorporate a regimen of R&R. Take it from a team of health buffs and competition fanatics, we are telling you it is, in fact, OK to skip the workout today (probably even tomorrow), kick back in your recliner, and enjoy a slow, un-exhaustive evening.
Labels: staying alert and focused
Posted
on Friday, April 23, 2010 at 12:01 PM.
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