Overtraining- A Beginners Worst Mistake

The most common mistake in muscle obsessive beginners remains the overstress and prolonged weight training period, often resulting in “overtraining syndrome”. This dangerous over enthusiasm pushes back the ability to maintain muscle gains and negatively impacts the human body in a variety of ways. When striving to gain muscle size and strength, remember the importance of rest and recovery, as a disregard for either will undoubtedly result in overtraining.Overtraining specifically occurs when a workout routine refuses to allow enough recovery time between each session, or when each session occurs for too long of a duration, overstressing the muscles beyond normal repair time. When such habits become standard, symptoms will appear in warning of overtraining, and can develop exponentially if ignored. Many symptoms associated with overtraining are:

• Chronic Fatigue


• Constant Muscle Soreness


• Unusual Sleeping Patterns


• Decreased immune efficiency


• Loss of Appetite


• Weight Loss, “reversal” of gains

Symptoms increase with the severity of overtraining, but any sign should encourage one to reconsider the chosen routine, and to further allow the body a recuperation period in order to rebalance the level of recovery.

Listening to the body for signs of overtraining is the best method of prevention in this common malady. Make sure nutrition is in line with the level of training the body incurs on a normal basis in conjuction with watching for physical sign over training. Malnutrition only decreases recovery time in the muscles, and needs consideration with any routine. As well as proper nutritional habits, supplementation may be introduced to further encourage recovery within the body, and many times notes higher rates of recovery and prevents overtraining when practiced properly.

Recovery, not excessive weight training, builds quality muscle. Remember to rest the body and practive quality nutrition habits when regularly practicing a weight training routine. Overtraining can set you back in achieving a desired goal, so remember the rules, and lift hard!