Burn
Out vs Over Training
The
difference between burn out and over training may seem subtle but
the distinction is important. Over training simply means working
out to a degree that is detrimental (rather than beneficial) to
your body. Burn out occurs when you have been working out without
effective variation and motivation to sustain the enjoyment and
therefore the benefits of the workout. Today we will focus on over
training. Next time we will talk about exercise burn out.
It
has been said that women are more prone to over training than men.
Studies on impact sports such as boxing, reveal that women tend
to be much more aggressive than men over-all. This may be because
impact training allows women to express their aggressive emotions
in an arena that is acceptable, thus giving them “permission”
to be as aggressive as they like. Athletic training, particularly
weight resistance training has become more acceptable for women
in the past 20 years. This has provided an excellent forum for women
to celebrate their physical achievements and to showcase their confidence,
thus creating a desire for them in to do more and more.
Despite
the many benefits associated with sports and fitness programs, there
is one silent challenge that lurks in the shadows of such a seemingly
perfect choice for a healthy life-style. That is the phenomenon
of over-training. In many cases over training remains undetected
until an adverse event happens, such as a metabolic change, a plateau
that won’t budge, a micro-fracture, minor injuries that “won’t
heal” etc. This is subtle because the hallmark of a person
who is over-training is the sense that they are “unstoppable”,
that they feel “on top of the world” and that they “never
felt better”. Those around them may notice other changes,
however, that they just can’t put their finger on. The may
be asking “Are you alright, you just seem edgy?” The
person working out may become very intense about everything. They
may become rather compulsive about their workouts. If they aren’t
losing weight, and they are trying to, they may be tempted to cut
back on calories even more and increase their workouts, which is
the exact opposite of what will help.
What
is the cure for over training? Rest and adequate nutrition with
nutritional supplementation is most beneficial. The average person
should take breaks from their workouts every three months, for a
week. For those who work out more than average, the break may need
to be from two to four weeks. Resting can often prove to be more
difficult than the hardest workout ever, but there are many strategies
that can help to get through this rest period. As for nutrition,
ask a fitness professional.
