I've written a full article on this topic and it's available on this forum. The problem that I see is the terminology that is been used or not used in this instance to solve this seemingly confusing scenario. I'll make it clear...
1. Overtraining....yes every Tom Dick and Jane talks about it
2. Under-recovering...as above
3. Over-reaching...hardly anyone talks or knows about it.
For the average trainee, I do not believe in a state of overtraining, but I do believe in a state of under-recovering. That is to say, what one does in the gym can not be hard enough to be called overtraining (I'll explain why in a second). However, what one does not do once they leave the gym, can and does lead to under-recovering, which in turn causes one to not progress as they should, had they ticked all the boxes that go to make one recover properly, namely rest and sleep, nutrition/enough calories and so on and so forth.
Getting back to the overtraining bit and why I consider it near impossible for the average trainee to experience it, based on his gym workout. The main reason for this phenomenon lies with human psychology and the way it affects our physical exertion in that gym. If you truly believe that you're giving it your best during your gym workouts, I'm here to argue the point that you're not. Mmm, so how would I know when I'm giving it my best and what is it that is needed for me to give it my best? In two words: external influence. That is what you need, that is what everyone needs to guarantee true maximum effort.
And that's precisely where over-reaching (and therefore true overtraining if you like) comes in. Confused? No need to be. Think of it this way: one action is deliberate and very much calculated (that is the over-reaching) you were able to attain thanks to that external influence, whilst the other state (that your average trainee in the gym calls overtraining), is no more than some serious lack of under-recovering. A fight with your girlfriend or your boss at work can reduce your ability to recover. It doesn't take much, hence I've always emphasised the positive psychology of an athlete's mind playing a huge part in his ability to make progress. Some athletes are better managers of their stress levels, and know how to handle and control such external and potentially negative influences.
Here's the small article I've written on the subject: Overtraining or under-recovering?
Yeah i dont know anything about track athletes.Tim, but big change, especially in track, is much shorter cycles almost year round. That is why many athletes now run fast throughout season.
thinking its recovery instead of going out and...delivering a baby.
No need for sorry mate, that's your opinion and I very much welcome it, even though I disagree with it.sorry fadi, you are wrong.
I'm sure I've mentioned sleep. We need both, rest and sleep Andy. We can make this extremely complicated by talking about the difference between a restful sleep and one that is not. We can talk abut a physical rest that is positive and one that is not.not to be nit picky fad but rest is not going to facilitate recovery it's sleep.
more often than not a dud does a half arsed workout and then they crash on the coach with a bag of chips and coke to watch the Telly for the rest of the time thinking its recovery instead of going out and mowing the lawn or chopping down a tree or delivering a baby.
all one needs is proper sleep and sound nutrition which is repeated again and again on this forum, we must keep it simple, because it is.
not to be nit picky fad but rest is not going to facilitate recovery it's sleep.
more often than not a dud does a half arsed workout and then they crash on the coach with a bag of chips and coke to watch the Telly for the rest of the time thinking its recovery instead of going out and mowing the lawn or chopping down a tree or delivering a baby.
all one needs is proper sleep and sound nutrition which is repeated again and again on this forum, we must keep it simple, because it is.
No need for sorry mate, that's your opinion and I very much welcome it, even though I disagree with it.
I'm sure I've mentioned sleep. We need both, rest and sleep Andy. We can make this extremely complicated by talking about the difference between a restful sleep and one that is not. We can talk abut a physical rest that is positive and one that is not.
Now allow me to nick pick for a second here. For someone to crash on the couch with a bag of chips and a can of coke could serve to be one of the ultimate comfort for that person. You may substitute that bag of chips and can of coke for a tub of ice cream if you like, and the mental effect (from serotonin) would go towards serving that lifter's muscle well when it comes to true tranquility and relaxation. So a good diet, coupled with some comfort food can and does do wonders when you add it to sleep, leading to a much better recovery than if that same person was to feel restricted or deprived in anyway.
I've said this a million times on this forum already: the athlete's psychological health plays a huge role in the way he trains as well as in the way he recovers from such training.
I'll conclude by saying that sleep in and of itself is not going to help an athlete recover, it's the quality of that sleep that one ought to focus on. Thank you.
Andy, if you wish to disagree with me, I have no problem with that. But please let's make sure we're discussing the same thing here. First you talk about recovery, now you're talking about rebuilding. No one is arguing that one needs sleep to rebuild, I certainly wasn't.Your opinion is welcome, however I disagree, rest is needed between exertion, sleep is required for rebuilding, and that's not just muscle.
Andy, if you wish to disagree with me, I have no problem with that. But please let's make sure we're discussing the same thing here. First you talk about recovery, now you're talking about rebuilding. No one is arguing that one needs sleep to rebuild, I certainly wasn't.
Oh thank you!The topic is overtraining.
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