Doing too much vs. not doing enough

In training for performance (or looks for that matter) there is a line between not doing enough (not enough stimulus) to get the expected results and doing too much (overtraining), which doesn't get you where you want to go either. To top it all off there are a lot of factors that influence whether we are doing too much, from our actual time spent in the gym, to our nutrition, how much we sleep, to how much stress we are under at our job and in our home.

It is quite hard to reach a state of overtraining when we are considering your time in the gym, especially if you are not a professional athlete, but coupled with many of the other stressors mentioned above, it is not very difficult to push yourself into a state of overtraining (and I'm quite sure that most of us experience at least some stress from our life outside the gym). We should consider this whenever we program for ourselves or our clients.

Now the other category......

Not doing enough! Usually this comes down to laziness and/or not organizing ourselves. Really there isn't much scientific stuff that I can tell you but get off your butt's and do something. I understand that there are good and bad programs but at the end of the day if you are doing any type of program with consistency and intensity, it will yield results! Now that doesn't mean you shouldn't take into consideration the program you are on and make sure it is tailored to your goals, but even if you have the best program for you it will not mean anything if you do not do it with consistency and intensity.

It is very rare that I hear people complain about overtraining but everyday I hear people complaining about how they need to get in shape and get stronger and how they don't have the time to do it, or the program just isn't working, or any one of hundreds of other excuses.

Maybe we should try to lean towards ''overtraining'' and then the results will come.....

I know I need to calm myself down and take a couple of days off because I have over done it. Can't wait to get back in the gym and reach for my new goals. Anyone care to join me?