C.S. Sloan's Integral Strength

Some Thoughts on Understanding and Avoiding Overtraining      When it comes to the state commonly referred to as “overtraining,” opinions vary. They run quite the gamut, too.  Some lifters are so bold as to declare “no such thing as overtraining exists.”  On the polar opposite, flip side of that you have the typical “hardgainer” advice that more than just two workouts—hell, maybe more than just one hard session—per week will lead to “OVERTRAINING.”  For some reason, the latter group typically capitalizes “overtraining.”  I guess that’s to show the rest of us overtrainers just how scary of a subject it can be.  The truth, of course, and you may have already surmised this, lies somewhere in between those two extremes.      There are three areas , I believe, in which overtraining occurs.  They overlap but are still particular enough that they each deserve their own mention.  You can overtrain your movemen...

       I started writing this essay as much for myself as for anyone else.  The truth is that, despite the fact that I should know better, and in fact do know better, which makes it all the worse, I am entirely guilty of not giving my body (and mind) enough rest and recuperation.  Or, at the very least, not wanting to give my body enough rest.  Most of the time, I have to remind myself to take off for a day, or to do the things required to make sure I’m recovering properly.  Part of that is the fact that I love to train.  I know that there are a lot of people out there who have to force themselves to go to the gym.  I have to force myself to not go to the gym (especially since my gym is only a few feet away from me at all times, in my garage).      Before we go any further in this, let me make one thing perfectly clear: I think, overall, more training is better.  As I’m fond of saying—or writ...