I don't know where exactly to draw the line be...

2011-07-27T08:16:15.264-05:00

I don't know where exactly to draw the line between overtraining and under recovery, but I was overtrained before. I spent a year preparing for a SpecOps training program, and then during the 15 week program, I became overtrained.

The mind is much stronger than the body, so it's amazing how much further you can push your body after it's already breaking down. By the end of the 15 weeks, I was unable to continue with any further training. I had fractures in both tibias, a compression fracture in my lumbar, and broken bones all through my feet, not to mention I had torn muscles, sprains, and tendonitis in pretty much every joint in my body.

I felt so awful that I went to a doc to get checked out thinking I had some disease or something. My cortisol level was off the charts high, my testosterone level had crashed and dropped below normal ranges, my liver enzymes were elevated from all the muscle damage, and my immune system response was so low it was unmeasurable.

The way it was explained to me is that, any stress causes an alert within the body, then the adaptation phase takes place, and at this point, 1 of 2 things can happen. 1 if the stress is reduced or removed, the body is able to complete its adaptation to that stressor so the body becomes stronger OR 2 the stressor continues until the body enters a fatigue phase. Staying in that fatigue phase for too long is what leads to overtraining.

So, in my case, despite all the massages, hot and cold baths, sleep, stretching, SMR, mass quantities of food, supplements, etc, because that stress was never reduced, eventually my body just started breaking down.

"Your life outside the gym has to support wha...

2011-07-13T20:36:45.790-05:00

"Your life outside the gym has to support what you want to accomplish inside the gym."

That is a great gem. It is very poignant and sum's up what I try to stress to people.

Also very interesting point on what overtraining really is and how it could be overstated. I never thought about it before but in conjunction with under recovery it makes sense. With enough recovery I feel you could train almost as hard as you want(within reason). We might be getting into the realm of splitting hairs, however I think it is necessary. Misdiagnosing someone as over training instead of under recovered does not really look at the real issue.

Great Post, Doc.

Comments on Olympic Weightlifting | Overtraining and Recovery: Overtraining vs Under Recovery

I don't know where exactly to draw the line be...

"Your life outside the gym has to support wha...