Overtraining is an easy pitfall for dedicated athletes and driven fitness enthusiasts. It can also be a setback that may lead to muscle loss and injury. Knowing the three warning signs of overtraining can save your mind and body from unnecessary stress.
Decreased Performance:
A clear indicator that you've been pushing yourself too hard or working out too often is decreased athletic performance. When you're not able to lift the same weight or pump out the same amount of repetitions, you're body may be trying to tell you it hasn't recovered from the last session or sessions.
Increased Muscle Soreness:
Even the most well conditioned athletes get sore after an intense workout, but a deep muscle sore may indicate that the body has not had enough time to rest and heal properly. This may also be the case if you are sore for a longer period of time than you normally would be. “If the entire system (body) has been pushed too hard too many times without sufficient recovery, we have entered into either overreaching or overtraining, which can take weeks to recover.” says Dr. Joseph Horrigan.
Fatigue:
If you're constantly feeling tired and struggling to find motivation and focus in the gym, it's time to listen to your body and give it a rest. Reaching a state of burnout means you've gone beyond the limit your body is able to handle and it needs time to recuperate; pushing through and continuing at the same intensity or frequency will do no good.
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discmdgroup DISC Sports and Spine Center (DISC) is one of America’s foremost providers of minimally invasive spine procedures and advanced arthroscopic techniques. Our individually picked, highly specialized physicians apply both established and innovative solutions to diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate their patients in a one-stop, multi-disciplinary setting. With a wide range of specialists under one roof, the result is an unmatched continuity of care with more efficiency, less stress for the patient, and a zero MRSA infection rate. Read more articles by discmdgroup.
