Overtraining?

[grab an umbrella]

Ok so my question is in regards to a new program I've been trying.  I am a little scared that I may be overtraining due to the sheer amount of work I'm doing.  For example, on precher curls I do as many full reps as I can until I cant do another full rep and then start half reps from the bottom.  After that I do half reps from the top portion to the sticking point.  When I can barely move the weight I have my partner assist me and do one more full rep.  The same thing applies to quad extensions and other exercises like that.  The question here is do you think I may be overtraining.  Ive read a lot of stuff about how performing more than one total failure set per workout may be counterproductive.  I dont know what to think of the literature because I am not sure if the people in said test even worked out or anything.  I eat about every three hours, get all my sleep, but im not sure if my body is going to be able to recover.

[JackCheze]

we need more info. How long have you been working out? Protein intake? Goal?

come on man, help the board help you

[grab an umbrella]

I've been training on and off for about 5 years now, only got serious in about the last two.  My diet is completely locked down, I'm not worried about that.  I take in close to 400 grams of protein a day and I'm about 5'11 230 pounds at about 12 or 13 percent bf.  My ultimate goal is to gain as much size as possible.

[WOOO]

I've been training on and off for about 5 years now, only got serious in about the last two.  My diet is completely locked down, I'm not worried about that.  I take in close to 400 grams of protein a day and I'm about 5'11 230 pounds at about 12 or 13 percent bf.  My ultimate goal is to gain as much size as possible.

regardless of whether or not those numbers are accurate, i would suggest that overtraining is not something that we can generalize about... the real question is: How do you feel?

my suggestion is to do sets like that on no more than every other workout, that way you get the benefits but you also have 2 weeks to "recover"

[powerpack]

How do you feel?

That is so true, I overtrain very quickly.
I often lie awake at night with my muscles twitching from neural overload.
But the real test is how do you feel.
As long as I look forward to training, feel excited and aggressive in gym I know I am cool.
The moment the excitement is gone or I feel a sense of dread I know it is time to back off.

[WOOO]

That is so true, I overtrain very quickly.
I often lie awake at night with my muscles twitching from neural overload.
But the real test is how do you feel.
As long as I look forward to training, feel excited and aggressive in gym I know I am cool.
The moment the excitement is gone or I feel a sense of dread I know it is time to back off.

have you thought about bruilding a training regimen that is divided into 2 weeks?  similar to many pros?

[thewickedtruth]

If you're gaining strength and or size then I wouldn't call it over training. If you're not making progress or you're LOSING size and strength, you're over training. It just takes experience and paying attention to your body to notice it. Keep trying til you find a formula that works well for you!

[Mike]

have you thought about bruilding a training regimen that is divided into 2 weeks?  similar to many pros?

Unless you want to be a Pro Bodybuilder or fail horribly at a routine, don't train like a Pro...please!

[thewickedtruth]

Unless you want to be a Pro Bodybuilder or fail horribly at a routine, don't train like a Pro...please!

NO SHIT! THIS IS GOOD ADVICE HERE! 

[The Squadfather]

I've been training on and off for about 5 years now, only got serious in about the last two.  My diet is completely locked down, I'm not worried about that.  I take in close to 400 grams of protein a day and I'm about 5'11 230 pounds at about 12 or 13 percent bf.  My ultimate goal is to gain as much size as possible.

i'm extremely doubtful that you're taking in 400 grams of protein a day, probably more like 250 which is exactly what most guys who think they're eating 400 really take in, most guys drastically overestimate the amount of protein they eat.

[WOOO]

Unless you want to be a Pro Bodybuilder or fail horribly at a routine, don't train like a Pro...please!

i was not suggesting that he train like a pro, i said he should split his workout like a pro with one week of balls to the wall lower reps and one week of higher reps without failure

[thewickedtruth]

i was not suggesting that he train like a pro, i said he should split his workout like a pro with one week of balls to the wall lower reps and one week of higher reps without failure

That makes more sense. Thanks for clearing that up. You've always had good advice bro, that just sounded a little out of character earlier.

[thewickedtruth]

i'm extremely doubtful that you're taking in 400 grams of protein a day, probably more like 250 which is exactly what most guys who think they're eating 400 really take in, most guys drastically overestimate the amount of protein they eat.

No shit. I wish some of these people actually knew what that kinda protien looked like in a day. Not only did my kidneys bitch and complain but I don't think it really did any good. If you consume about 200-250 grams a day and that's still alot for most, you should be fine. I had to take 3 shakes a day, eat 6-8 eggs, 2lbs of steak, chicken adn wahtever else all day long. It gets old.

[WOOO]

That makes more sense. Thanks for clearing that up. You've always had good advice bro, that just sounded a little out of character earlier.

BUMP!

No shit. I wish some of these people actually knew what that kinda protien looked like in a day. Not only did my kidneys bitch and complain but I don't think it really did any good. If you consume about 200-250 grams a day and that's still alot for most, you should be fine. I had to take 3 shakes a day, eat 6-8 eggs, 2lbs of steak, chicken adn wahtever else all day long. It gets old.

yeah, people often claim to eat huge amounts of protein... usually they eat a ton on one day a week and then have 6 days of mediocre intake.  it takes dedication in the KITCHEN to consume 300g+ per day

BTW, i do not think that much protein is necessary... say if you weight 230 and are at 15% BF, your lean body weight is not 230... at most 250g of protein would suffice

[grab an umbrella]

Dudes I work in a restaurant about four days a week, trust me I get 400 grams of protein a day in.  I wake up to 12 egg whites and 2 whole eggs a protein shake and some oatmeal.  About two or so hours later I'm munching on either chicken or steak(chicken breast or top sirloin), a large serving of rice and some veggies.  About an hour after than I run over to the gym and hit the weights, then I have another shake following my workout.  After that I wait about half an hour to an hour and eat another whole food meal of steak usually.  Then if im working that night I will cook up a meal for right after work and a meal for right then.  I work for about 6 hours so I have an mrp(the mhp one, I really like it just btw) about halfway through work.  Right as I get off I grab my food from out of the cooler and munch on it on the drive home.  Once I get home I watch some tv and puff on the weed and eat another meal.  Right before bed I down on last shake(casein and soy protein) and then fall asleep.  I'm pretty confident I'm getting enough protein in.  WOOO you do make a good point.  My muscles have started staying sore for a really long time.  I think I may need to back off just a little bit.  Its just the pumps I get when I workout like I said are incredible and I feel great the rest of the day.  I think I may have DOMS, although I'm not 100 percent sure because I haven't really done enough research.  Oh and as far as you guys thinking I'm lying about my weight and what not, I dont look like I weigh 230.  If you looked at me you wouldn't think I was much over 200 pounds.  I wasn't trying to make some bs claims like a lot of guys do, I guess I hold a lot of water or my bones are heavy or something...

[SirTraps]

unless you weigh 300+ with 7 % bodyfat, nobody needs/uses 400 grams of protein a day.  1 gram/kilo works for me. 1-2 grams is reasonable but i dont even think you need 2 gams per kilo

[thewickedtruth]

unless you weigh 300+ with 7 % bodyfat, nobody needs/uses 400 grams of protein a day.  1 gram/kilo works for me. 1-2 grams is reasonable but i dont even think you need 2 gams per kilo

Exactly.  Bro we're just saying you don't really need that much. Most people one gram per lb of body weight MAX is plenty! If you're a desk job paper pusher by day then you probably need even less. It's too much work on your kidneys and even if the rest of your diet is clean, you'll still get fat from all the left overs than aren't pissed out.

[grab an umbrella]

Well damn, maybe thats why I cant seem to lose these last few pounds...So basically unless I'm using a shit ton of gear and what not theres no need for all that protein?

[thewickedtruth]

Well damn, maybe thats why I cant seem to lose these last few pounds...So basically unless I'm using a shit ton of gear and what not theres no need for all that protein?

sounds about right.

[grab an umbrella]

I've been lied to...damnit, I'm never believing anything those fvcking magazines say anymore...I know half the time they bullshit through their teeth.  I just thought the protein thing was true.  Maybe I will start farting so damn much.  Heres what Im thinking though, Instead of cutting any meals out, just reduce the quantity of food i eat?

[thewickedtruth]

I've been lied to...damnit, I'm never believing anything those fvcking magazines say anymore...I know half the time they bullshit through their teeth.  I just thought the protein thing was true.  Maybe I will start farting so damn much.  Heres what Im thinking though, Instead of cutting any meals out, just reduce the quantity of food i eat?

There's no written gospel in bodybuilding man. Everyone is different. At least now you KNOW you dont' need it. I was still gaining weight on 200grams a day and I weight 246 right now. Find that forumla that gets you where you want and go from there. It's hard maintaining that kinda food like that even if you like to eat. In all honesty, I'm starting to think the average lifter and even the mild juicer need no more than 3k calories MAX if all you do is lift for a few hours a day everyday you train.

[grab an umbrella]

Yeah I mean, I guess all the signs were there that I was taking in too much protein...I was just following like a sheep, I guess I will start doing whatever feels right...honestly tho I love eating, like I super love eating, especially steak, I will never grow tired of steak...my friend mary really helps me enjoy food a lot...

[The Squadfather]

Dudes I work in a restaurant about four days a week, trust me I get 400 grams of protein a day in.  I wake up to 12 egg whites and 2 whole eggs a protein shake and some oatmeal.  About two or so hours later I'm munching on either chicken or steak(chicken breast or top sirloin), a large serving of rice and some veggies.  About an hour after than I run over to the gym and hit the weights, then I have another shake following my workout.  After that I wait about half an hour to an hour and eat another whole food meal of steak usually.  Then if im working that night I will cook up a meal for right after work and a meal for right then.  I work for about 6 hours so I have an mrp(the mhp one, I really like it just btw) about halfway through work.  Right as I get off I grab my food from out of the cooler and munch on it on the drive home.  Once I get home I watch some tv and puff on the weed and eat another meal.  Right before bed I down on last shake(casein and soy protein) and then fall asleep.  I'm pretty confident I'm getting enough protein in.  WOOO you do make a good point.  My muscles have started staying sore for a really long time.  I think I may need to back off just a little bit.  Its just the pumps I get when I workout like I said are incredible and I feel great the rest of the day.  I think I may have DOMS, although I'm not 100 percent sure because I haven't really done enough research.  Oh and as far as you guys thinking I'm lying about my weight and what not, I dont look like I weigh 230.  If you looked at me you wouldn't think I was much over 200 pounds.  I wasn't trying to make some bs claims like a lot of guys do, I guess I hold a lot of water or my bones are heavy or something...

that still isn't 400 grams i'll gaurantee it, more like 300 grams.

[grab an umbrella]

It ranges anywhere from 350 to 405ish depending on how much i decide to eat, i snack a lot between my meals too, i love peanuts and almonds, cottage cheese....speaking of im gonna go eat...

[Mike]

I've been lied to...damnit, I'm never believing anything those fvcking magazines say anymore...I know half the time they bullshit through their teeth.  I just thought the protein thing was true.  Maybe I will start farting so damn much.  Heres what Im thinking though, Instead of cutting any meals out, just reduce the quantity of food i eat?

Another one sees the light!

Count calories and stop counting grams of protein, trust me, you'll get enough.

As far as overtraining, I'm positive that you are, judging by your experience level (no offense, just the truth)