Overtraining? Or Crazy?

[gferrare]

I have been doing more reading and I think I might be "overtraining". I have had 2 upper respitory infections in 2 months, I don't drink or smoke and I eat pretty good. My gains are non-existant and I have trouble waking up. I am not sure what the culprit is, but I am coming to the conclusion that I need to make some type of change in the gym and at home.

Last winter I saw a sport therapist for "patello femoral" syndrome and then last summer I saw a podiatrist for a semi-fractured sesamoid bone in my foot and the start of some major osteo-arthritis in my feet from working out too much. He told me that I have done more to my body than most people have done in a lifetime. I shrugged him off.

I never believed any doctors when they mention that I am doing too much b/c in my head I am not seeing any gains...but perhaps that is b/c my body is taking any extra energy to try and heal itself???

Have any of you ever come across anyone with the same type of issues? I am at a loss. I am a 34 year old female and working out is very important to me- but being constantly sick or injured is really making it hard for me to enjoy anymore. This has been my life since high school.

 

[Sassy69]

Very hard to say based on no information about what you do for training. If your injuries are sports-related then I might venture that you are overtraining, but especially when you pursue training w/ the intensity equivalent to competition prep, you learn REAL FAST the value and NEED for recovery. Overtraining can also be called under recovery.

If you aren't seeing any gains then I have to defer to the Dr. Phil approach - ask yourself about your training regimen "So, how's that workin' for ya?".. If you are doing the same thing for a long time & not getting results, doesnt' that imply that its not working?

I've experienced 'overtraining' while working w/ a guy I hired for competition prep. As a result of his brand of overtraining, I have extensive recurring tendonitis and experienced essentially a metabolic shut-down as far as pursuing full-on competition diet & training and couldn't lose weight. I hit a point where I could no longer get through a standard training session w/o either experiencing complete exhaustion or just breaking down & crying. I saw a general practitioner & also an endorcrinologist and they didn't find any problems. However I was exhausted, depressed and couldnt' drop any weight for nearly a year.

Also people tend to base the entire scope of "YEA I WORK HARD!" on only training. Guess what - results are at least 80% dependent on diet.

I"m starting from the assumption that from all your injuries & time w/ the doctor that you haven't been diagnosed w/ an underlying problem (although I guess you can't rule it out explicitly either...). But can you give us more context for some more targeted answers - the following:

- Your current stats - height, weight, bodyfat
- Your exact diet - what you eat, how much, when you eat it over the course of a typical day.
- Your exact training regimen - including your split, amount of cardio
- How long have you been following the same diet & training schedule and what if any results have you seen.

 

[scorpiogirl]

Last winter I saw a sport therapist for "patello femoral" syndrome

My daughter use to run track. She loves running, but unfortunately, she was diagnosed with this too. I know it's extremely painful. It's basically, flat feet.

I agree with Sassy though......can't really help you without knowing your stats, diet, training etc.

 

[gferrare]

Unfortunately, I used to be more regimented with my diet and training and because of my consistent set-backs (overuse injuries, colds, etc) my workout method has been hap-hazzard to say the least. When I get back into the gym after being sick for a week I go as hard and as fast as I can. I don't really use rhyme or reason.

I would post my stats, but I am too embarressed b/c it is all over the place.

This week I did do great- but I am sore as hell. LOL. I took the day off today and will go for legs tomorrow.

I think I am just going to get back to my regime at a moderate pace and THEN I will post my stats if I don't see improvement! I know I am guilty of "all or nothing" mentality. I have been very discouraged this past year and I definately have been off and on with a clean diet.

We'll see. My energy level has been fantastic, but I haven't tried the Cardio Breeze again. I will give it another whirl.

 

[Sassy69]

Hey ! The only important thing is getting in there - I still think its harder to get teh habit started than the actual training. So if you don't worry about it too much say for the next 3 weeks and just do it, you should be just fine!

 

[scorpiogirl]

I've found (even having the equipment at home) it's hard to "get there", but once I'm there, I train hard and feel great when I'm done. You think about it and don't feel like getting your stuff together, driving over there and fighting the idiots for equipment.....but stop thinking....as NIKE says.....JUST DO IT!

Hey - we all have to start somewhere. You are your own worst critic!