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Signs of Overtraining your Muscles

Q. I've been reading about overtraning and how it can hold back your muscle building progress. How can I know for sure if I am overtraining? Are there any definite signs or symptoms that can tell me that I am over working in the gym?

A. Overtraining is a big problem among bodybuilders and other athletes, causing them to make little or no progress. Yes, there are ways to know when you are over working in the gym.

Here are some of the most common signs of overtraining:

Persistent soreness and stiffness in the muscles, joints and tendons. Heavy-leggedness.

Loss of interest in training. Depression ("I don't care" attitude). Nervousness and inability to relax, A drop in school or work performance.

Headache. Loss of appetite. Fatigue and sluggishness. Loss of weight. Swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, groin and armpits. Constipation or diarrhea. Absence of menstruation.

There is also a simple test you can use to detect overtraining. When you first wake up in the morning, check your pulse rate, if it is seven beats per minute faster then usual, you need to take at least a few days off.

When you resume training, cut back on the volume of you workouts and increase your training intensity. This will insure the fastest muscle building results, while avoiding overtraining.

For more information on high intensity training get the new HITMAN High Intensity Training Manual.

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Disclaimer: This information presented is intended to be used for educational purposes only. The statements made have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (U.S.). These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease. Please consult with your own physician or health care practitioner regarding any suggestions and recommendations made.