Overtraining Syndrome is a condition that occurs when the demands placed on the body through training exceed the ability of the body to recover. This creates certain actions in the body that we call "overtraining symptoms".
I'd like to thank Timothy Jensen for this well conducted interview we did
a while back on exercise overtraining syndrome.
Excess weight lifting may hurt more than help
By Timothy Jensen
NewsNet Staff Writer
While women may obsess about slimming down and keeping off the pounds, too
many men may be obsessed with hitting the weights and gaining muscle.
"It is probably even more of a problem for the general public," said Ray Burton,
a certified personal trainer and winner of the 2002 Southern Alberta Body
Building Championships. "It is like putting a nail in a piece of wood. Once
it is in you cannot do anything more. If you keep hammering it, you will just
cause more damage ... some guys end up in a hospital if they push their body
too far."
To curb the obsession, people need to quit reading the magazines, Burton said.
He added that magazines are designed to sell products, and the workouts written
in the magazines are geared towards professional body builders. If people
abide by them, they will be overtraining, get sick and get worn out.
Burton's Web site, http:// Buildingbodies.ca, stated balance is essential.
It is good to burn calories and build muscle but that should not be one's
entire life. A maximum of 2 hours should be spent in the gym and 22 hours
away doing other things. Relax and enjoy life.
"I think in general, when you have to skip out on opportunities that would
make life more enjoyable, I think it has gone too far," Burton said.
The major problem associated with workout obsession is that relationships
suffer, Burton said. The individual gets more absorbed in himself or herself
than the person they are with.
"I draw the line where you have to decide who is more important," Burton said.
"Either you choose a partner that is equally involved in weight training as
you are, or you just decide not to do it."
Simply Fit Inc., a company that supplies suppliment drinks and advises on
weight training, stated overtraining symptoms include elevated resting heart
rate, loss of appetite, lethargy, weight loss and irritability, as well as
changes in the testosterone and hormones involved in a stress response.
Burton said overtraining will cause one's muscle mass to decrease and the
body's physique will enter in a downward spiral.
According to the Web site http://highIntensity.net, there is a big difference
in muscle fatigue and muscle pain. Muscle fatigue is a tiredness throughout
all of the muscles in the body. Muscle pain is a sharp shooting or stabbing
pain in a certain part of the body.
According to the Web site's author, Dave Stowe, an assistant director of fitness
for Le Club gym, when people work out or lift, the body produces endorphins.
This is what gives that "runners high." Without it, one may feel antsy, irritable,
and out of shape until he or she does it again.
"People just need to train a little smarter, have more fun and get the same
results," Burton said.
This story was posted on
Sunday, November 23 2003 NewsNet.
All rights reserved.
Overtraining Symptoms
1) General aches and pains in muscles and joints
2) Not being able to sleep
3) Getting sick frequently
4) Nervous movements and fidgeting
5) Drops in performance in your sport
6) Irritability