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Are You Overtraining?

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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13 Comments

  1. lisasfoods

    I tend to get run down when I exercise too much. Colds and sore throats start to come on, and I’ll feel extra fatigued. When that happens I take more rest days, and stick to gentle walks and yoga. I like to go for one rest day per week.

    1. hundredtenpounds

      Sounds like me… I get colds and bronchitis. Not fun. 🙁

  2. Lori (Finding Radiance)

    I have overtrained a couple times. I was lucky enough to catch it early to back off so it didn’t turn into full blown overtraining.

    I now know as soon as I start to not to want to work out, then I am close to overtraining!

  3. Jenn@slim-shoppin

    I’ll tell you what NOT to do.. don’t stop for that long!

    Twice I ran the Chicago Marathon, trained each time for 7-8 months, then as soon as it was over, I stopped…everything!!! The marathon was in October, and then I would do nothing until the following Feb. and then it was like starting all over again. My stamina was down, it took a while to build that up again, and the after the 2nd marathon I did the same exact thing!

    I think if you have built up a fitness level, but want to take a break, certainly take rest days, but maybe walk a day, or have a light bike ride just to stay in the game.

    But, if you stop for a little bit, you won’t gain everything back that quick! Listen to your body and you will know what to do

    1. hundredtenpounds

      Thanks for the advice! I don’t think I could ever just stop everything. If I took a month long rest it would be from running. I’d still swim and do everything else. Ah, who am I kidding? I doubt I could stop running all together…

  4. Kellie

    I really needed that post. I am at that point now. I am not running as much as before (only about 22miles a week) but I am also cross training 3 days a week. I am tired, grumpy and getting achy. I actually have stopped my monthly cycle (TMI, I know) since February. It is time to scale back, but it is really, really scary to me.

    1. hundredtenpounds

      22 miles is a lot! I do between 8-10 miles a week and cross train. Wow!

      Can you supplement more cross training and less running for awhile? I know the fear and anxiety you have though…

  5. Jim@giongFitness

    This is very good advice. I’ve experienced this first hand. Taking time off in general is a must and if you don’t, your setting yourself up for failure.

    I personally cross train between running, biking and swimming with a brick or two in there as well.

    1. hundredtenpounds

      I cross train as well and if one activity is starting to bore me, I switch it up.

  6. Kelly

    I can tell when I am overtrained because I am crabby, not motivated and I get sick. Good post…thanks!

  7. Disordered Thinking » 110 Pounds and Counting

    […] a plateau that stuck around for so long it made me crazy. My solution? To work out every day. For 28 days straight, I worked out in some fashion–gym, swimming, running, walking. This was most definitely […]

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