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Overtraining? Myth?
- Thread starter Sebass67
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gettinlarger
New member
No way. His body would be so overloaded. Lifts would continuously go down, extreme fatigue would set it, etc.
Thaibox
New member
I undertsand your logic in thiking this. Since we're constantly battling the body's strong adaptation, you'd think we could bust through overtraining and have that same adaptive response work FOR us. Its a nice thought, but unfortunately it doesn't work. Your body will simply continue to break down, and you'll fall into a catabolic crash and burn.
Overtraining is very real, more so for some than others, but its always there.
Overtraining is very real, more so for some than others, but its always there.
SofaGeorge
New member
Simple answer... I trained in the '70s and '80s when most people had never heard of "over training." Back then doing a full body work out three days a week was common. I used to do 4 hour workouts 4 days a week in the '80s... working each bodypart twice a week for 20 sets.
I remember when somebody first told me the theory of working one body part only once a week... and lowering the number of sets to about 10. I thought they were insane.
The first year I lowered my sets and worked one body part only once a week... I made my biggest natural gains ever.
You can adapt to over training. You just can't prosper from it. You make no gains.
I remember when somebody first told me the theory of working one body part only once a week... and lowering the number of sets to about 10. I thought they were insane.
The first year I lowered my sets and worked one body part only once a week... I made my biggest natural gains ever.
You can adapt to over training. You just can't prosper from it. You make no gains.
Now here is the thing...
SofaGeorge...Since u spent so long doing so much volume when u finally cut it down your body was in a state primed to grow. Do you think that had you had a normal routine throughout that u would make the same gains?
I am just playing devils advocate here...
SofaGeorge...Since u spent so long doing so much volume when u finally cut it down your body was in a state primed to grow. Do you think that had you had a normal routine throughout that u would make the same gains?
I am just playing devils advocate here...
Your body would adapt...just as it would if you started eating 1,000 kcals a day and sleeping only 3 hours a night. You would get smaller.
B True
B True
coolcolj
New member
Sebass67 said:
That is why pushing yourself to slight overtraining and then backing off works wonders!!!!
I use this principal a lot myself. either within a week, or globably between phases
Overtraining by 3-4% is good, anymore will halt things, learning how much you can get away with is the hard part
J
jeremys
Guest
this overtraining thing is hard for me to understand. because of one reason...
back in the day (arnold, franco, draper, etc), these guys trained crazy amounts and drank beer post-workout, yet they looked awesome. now we scream 'overtraining' and lots of people, like me, dont drink at all because it could affect protein synthesis or something..
now i know there's always the 'supplementation factor' with the guys back then, but still..i always wonder how that stuff worked for them if it's supposed to be so bad?
back in the day (arnold, franco, draper, etc), these guys trained crazy amounts and drank beer post-workout, yet they looked awesome. now we scream 'overtraining' and lots of people, like me, dont drink at all because it could affect protein synthesis or something..
now i know there's always the 'supplementation factor' with the guys back then, but still..i always wonder how that stuff worked for them if it's supposed to be so bad?
perhaps overtraining is not brought on by number sets, reps, how many times a week. perhaps lack of sleep and poor nutriton and other external environmental factors led to overtraining. i think its a combination, althoug i lack the experience to personally comment on this subject, i still think nutrition a TONS OF SLEEP are key to preventing overtraining. any thoughts??????????
C
Citruscide
Guest
The biggest problem I've ever had in bodybuidling was my diet. Eating enough food to put on the size. I can take 3 hour naps during the day if I have to... but shit, eating enough food to put on size?? That's a problem.
I used to train each body part 2x a week, not really much gains, andI did this while busting my ass on a two a day Track and Field routine at a Big Ten school. It worked wonders for my high jump, but I really didn't get any bigger ... lol.
I've found that working out each body part like a crazed maniac, once a week does the trick. My chest, back, bis, tris are ALWAYS sore after I workout... ever since I instituted my "animal" technique.
Much more effective than the 2 hour + sessions.
C-ditty
I used to train each body part 2x a week, not really much gains, andI did this while busting my ass on a two a day Track and Field routine at a Big Ten school. It worked wonders for my high jump, but I really didn't get any bigger ... lol.
I've found that working out each body part like a crazed maniac, once a week does the trick. My chest, back, bis, tris are ALWAYS sore after I workout... ever since I instituted my "animal" technique.
Much more effective than the 2 hour + sessions.C-ditty
Thaibox
New member
I took a few months off of anything resembling work last year and just trained. I slept 9-10 hours with a half hour nap everyday. I ate more than ever. All the variables were ideal. I decided to bump up the volume a little. Two weeks later I was hit with all the typical signs of overtraining and had to take a little break.tsarleon said:
CCJ, this is one of those things that takes time(trial and error). IMO this is such a fine line, that you're going to fall over the edge occasionally. Its inevitable. I do agree with you, everyone should train at that point, but damn its hard to stay there.
Lord_Suston
New member
Ovetraining can really only be sustained for 1-2 weeks in my opinion before your body go bad and you get so run down that you can't adapt,but every once and a while it is okay
louden_swain
New member
When you can't figure out where you parked your car in a grocery store parking lot. . . . you will then know you are overtrained. Yes, overtraining is miserable and it will run down the system.
Ok...another question...
If u are overtraining...
Best ways to gain from it...Do u think?
1.) Reduce the volume? Do the same exercises?
2.)Just don;t go to the gym for a couple days to a week?
3.) or do completely different exercises geared for recovery for a workout or two?
If u are overtraining...
Best ways to gain from it...Do u think?
1.) Reduce the volume? Do the same exercises?
2.)Just don;t go to the gym for a couple days to a week?
3.) or do completely different exercises geared for recovery for a workout or two?
Sleep a lot more, over eat for several days, cut the volume AND intensity (keep the exercises though) and relax and have fun!!!
B True
B True
vinylgroover
New member
I know i keep harping on about it, but you best notice that overtraining is real if you're training naturally, and believe me it's real.
It's not about whether you will or won't grow by overtraining, but about the rate at which you grow and maximising the efficiency of your training. It's a known fact that muscle grows when it's resting.
Just take 2 or 3 full days rest a week.
It's not about whether you will or won't grow by overtraining, but about the rate at which you grow and maximising the efficiency of your training. It's a known fact that muscle grows when it's resting.
Just take 2 or 3 full days rest a week.
Scaggs
New member
Nobody mentioned injury. You want to overtrain the delts? Hit a bench press everyday along with some dips and flies and watch your shoulder drop lifting a carton of eggs at the grocery store. You body will adapt, soreness will cease, you'll think your getting stronger and adapting, and then the simplest movement like lifting a gallon of milk to poor in your coffee will blow the rotator cuff. If you try to beat the laws of nature, you're setting yourself up for an injury. Don't forget, back in arnold days, they ate d-ball with their eggs. recovery is much faster than a natural bodybuilder. If i tried arnolds routines with that amount of volume, i think i'd end up in a coma 
Don't bother trying to beet it, you'll be shoveling shit against the tide. It goes nowhere.
Scaggs
Don't bother trying to beet it, you'll be shoveling shit against the tide. It goes nowhere.Scaggs
P
prophet
Guest
if there is one thing to keep in mind its better to undertrain then it is to overtrain....overtraing will put you in a cataoblic state and you will destroy all your body's functions....if you trained 1 time a week and you trained hard you will grow better than the person who trains 2x a day 7 days a week ***this is all assuming no drugs are involved
From my sophomore year in high school til the end of my senior year of high school, I was probably overtrained for 80% of the time. Summer weights was required. lift then run or run then lift (depending on your group). Not always fun at 6am, but it was invigorating to be up that early breaking yourself down. I made badass gains. Never more than 3-4 weeks without lifting during that those years. When I finally graduated, I stopped lifting, but suprisingly gained 4-7 lbs of mass during the 4-8 weeks off. Probably b/c I had been overtraining for so long. I benched 300 for 6 reps at 16 years old and hit 335 at 17. You can make gains while overtraining, but you have to have the genetics to do so.
Just make sure to eat enough, and overtraining isnt going to be as much of (if any) real problem if you have proper genetics to be a volume monster. I often spend 1-1.5 hours lifting each session. Then do cardio. My current regimen keeps me painfree, whereas when in was in HS I'd have aches and pains. I do:
Monday - Back/Chest (arms are worked indirectly)
Tuesday - Legs with some shoulder work
Wednesday - Arms
Thursday - Shoulders with some leg work
Friday - Back, maybe some minor arm work
Just make sure to eat enough, and overtraining isnt going to be as much of (if any) real problem if you have proper genetics to be a volume monster. I often spend 1-1.5 hours lifting each session. Then do cardio. My current regimen keeps me painfree, whereas when in was in HS I'd have aches and pains. I do:
Monday - Back/Chest (arms are worked indirectly)
Tuesday - Legs with some shoulder work
Wednesday - Arms
Thursday - Shoulders with some leg work
Friday - Back, maybe some minor arm work
i was gonna try this routine
do u guys think it maybe overtraining??
3 days on 1 day off reps are 10x's
1.chest/tris exercises 3,4/3,4
2.back/shoulders(very carefully) ex 4/3
3.legs/bis ex 6,7/2
i have just recently started to workout with weights (2 months of light weight) due to shoulder injury/surgery (labral cartlidge tear). operation was in oct 2000
any suggestions are appreciated.
do u guys think it maybe overtraining??
3 days on 1 day off reps are 10x's
1.chest/tris exercises 3,4/3,4
2.back/shoulders(very carefully) ex 4/3
3.legs/bis ex 6,7/2
i have just recently started to workout with weights (2 months of light weight) due to shoulder injury/surgery (labral cartlidge tear). operation was in oct 2000
any suggestions are appreciated.
Last edited:
Note that my training partner has started training with me on EVERY training session instead of just once a week...starting this semester.
Cheese's weight:
May: 218 (had dieted to be under 225)
August: 228
Mid-October: 245
December 1: 251
I predict that he will soon see 260-265 by May 2003...drug free!!! The biggest change that we have made into his training program is "backing off" on the volume and intensity once we have passed his first major exercise. He has grown in leaps and bounds...
B True
Cheese's weight:
May: 218 (had dieted to be under 225)
August: 228
Mid-October: 245
December 1: 251
I predict that he will soon see 260-265 by May 2003...drug free!!! The biggest change that we have made into his training program is "backing off" on the volume and intensity once we have passed his first major exercise. He has grown in leaps and bounds...
B True
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