Friday, December 15, 2006
The Dangers of Overtraining
Most people have a problem with undertraining, as in not working out enough. However, when we inevitably decide we have to turn our lives around, we want to be thin and healthy as soon as possible--and this can lead to dangerous overtraining.
This article covers the topic a little, but I think it misses the most important point: your body's needs are determined by its current state. What I mean by this is that couch potatoes should not try to become marathon runners within a few weeks. Their body's just aren't ready for it, and pushing too hard will likely cause a lot of damage.
Overtraining has an ill effect on the heart and the autonomic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system--the one that keeps stress from overwhelming us--acts like it's punch drunk during bouts of overtraining. It just can't keep up, and every little bit more pushes it toward giving out completely. If this should happen, it may be necessary to quit all physical activity for up to a month.
So, give your body what it needs now, which is to start exercising at its current capacity. Build up slowly and surely. You'll feel better quickly, and you'll be surprised at how fast you gain momentum and power toward your goals. Digg This!
This article covers the topic a little, but I think it misses the most important point: your body's needs are determined by its current state. What I mean by this is that couch potatoes should not try to become marathon runners within a few weeks. Their body's just aren't ready for it, and pushing too hard will likely cause a lot of damage.
Overtraining has an ill effect on the heart and the autonomic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system--the one that keeps stress from overwhelming us--acts like it's punch drunk during bouts of overtraining. It just can't keep up, and every little bit more pushes it toward giving out completely. If this should happen, it may be necessary to quit all physical activity for up to a month.
So, give your body what it needs now, which is to start exercising at its current capacity. Build up slowly and surely. You'll feel better quickly, and you'll be surprised at how fast you gain momentum and power toward your goals. Digg This!
