Group: General Fitness & Exercise

Created: 2011/12/31, Members: 382, Messages: 54581

Various general exercise related discussions. Find out what it takes to reach your fitness goals through daily effective exercise. With so many options we try to find out what works best.

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Overtraining?

minneti
minneti
Posts: 15
Joined: 2003/01/07
United States
2003/03/25, 10:51 PM
I've added exercises to the program described by this site. I just dont understand why i have to feel guilty by spending more time training ~1.5hr with :
2min. rest periods
reps of 4-8,
15 to 20 sets per muscle group ~
hard to say what my gains are, but am still adding weight and sticking very hard to form, i feel great after lifting, though i have to confess, i rarely do abs. anymore.
So the question is do i just cut my sets and excersizes back to only 3 or 4 per muscle group, or blow it off and continue- and what are the effects of "overtaining"

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Dont be afraid to fall down-
rpacheco
rpacheco
Posts: 3,770
Joined: 2001/12/13
United States
2003/03/26, 11:13 AM
Unfortunately, everyone is different. What others consider overtraining may be gains to another. I say, listen to your body. Remember, however, that you grow muscles when you are not in the gym!

Good luck!

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**_Robert_**
Pain is temporary; glory is forever!
mackfactor
mackfactor
Posts: 766
Joined: 2002/10/17
United States
2003/03/26, 11:54 AM
I'd say that 15-20 sets per workout with most rep schemes is fine. My workouts fall in the same range using 5 rep sets. Whether 15-20 sets per muscle group is too much or not depends on what you consider a muscle group. If you're doing 15-20 sets for biceps, chances are you're overtraining. I do antagonists on workouts, so I do 8-10 sets per muscle group for chest, back and posterior and anterior lower body. I do less for legs and more for my core muscularture (abs and lower back), because that is a weak point for me.

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"Don't follow leaders and watch your parking meters!"
-- Bob Dylan
minneti
minneti
Posts: 15
Joined: 2003/01/07
United States
2003/03/26, 09:34 PM
Thankyou for the help on the issue of overtraining, but how does this affect my gains? Yes, my bicep routine may be overtraining, but it feels great, I'll cut back if i knew it was affecting muscle size, but i give them 7 days rest between sets, and feel fresh when its arm day. I'm do to change routines next week:
Incline DB x4 sets
preacher x4 sets
cable straights x4 sets
standing straight bar 21's x3 sets
incline hammers x3 seets
This is the past 8 week routine. Thanks again for your help.