Over Training and Over Stretching Will Destroy Your Progress

The term over-training is widely used across social media, where many try to debunk the myth of “over-training”. Claiming that it is nothing but a hoax. For some overtraining is just a myth that people have talked about for ages but have never been able to prove it. The term overtraining stems from the methodology of over working yourself and demanding too much of our bodies. Overtraining occurs when our bodies are not given sufficient time to rest, recover and rebuild damaged muscle tissue in the body. That, sadly, is not identified enough today. Hitting plateaus and not making progress for weeks on end is attributed to not working hard enough, resting too much, and not performing intense workouts. As a result of such a lapse in judgement, people tend to push themselves harder, and demand too much of their bodies leading to burn out and injuries. 

Injuries

One of the most common forms of obtaining injuries is through overtraining. Most people feel soreness, niggles and pains and choose to fight through the pain barrier. This is a disastrous approach as it only leaves your body needing to work harder as other muscles work double-time to compensate for the affected muscle group. This leaves your body prone to long-term injuries as well as creating muscle imbalances and strength inequalities. You may feel strong in certain muscle groups, but weak in others. A well-rounded strong body is essential to live a healthy life.

Another sign of overtraining is the emergence of fatigue and agitation, most people who tend to overtrain also tend to be fiery. They feel agitated throughout the day and their patience wears thin. Fatigue is also a big issue, working out should leave you with more energy, not less. Exercising promotes growth hormones as well as endorphins, which leave you feeling great. Feelings of tiredness and fatigue are the opposite of the desired results.

Over-Stretching

Over-stretching, a topic not discussed as often, but a topic that must be brought to the fore. Over-stretching is borne out of pushing too hard during stretching. Most people tend to try and stretch more than their bodies allow. That is, they try to reach the peak of the movement. That is a recipe for failure. You do not go to the gym and lift 100kg on your first day. You start off with lighter weights and slowly make progress to heavier weights. That same principle should, in practice, apply to stretching as well. Trying to stretch “perfectly” is like trying to lift past your max on the first day, it will not work. Instead, stretch only to the point where your body allows you to, and slowly push more as time goes on. This follows the same principle of progressive overload. Progressing on your stretches is a long journey.