OVER-TRAINING: COULD TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING END UP BEING BAD?

Even the best of us will at one point or another be the victims of over-training. I guess it’s a bump on the road that we all have to go through, so that we can understand what it really means. The most common reason of over-training is letting ourselves get motivated by our feelings; then we stop thinking with our brain and we let our heart take over. The outcome is pushing yourself for that extra mile even though you have the gut feeling that you really should stop. It is just like the double bladed knife I mentioned in the earlier post.... leaning too much on either side and you could end up hurting yourself.

Another reason why people over-train is because they see advanced athletes and pro training like crazy; lifting heavy weights and doing long sessions of cardio with little difficulties. So they think they can do the same. But we forget that most of them have support which helps them recover faster than the average Joe, or that some of them are genetically gifted in such a way that over-training doesn’t really mean anything to them.

So what do you really have to do? You have to learn to start reading your body, and spotting the signs of over-training. There is no point in panicking, just take a step back, take that extra breath of air and think about:

1. How is your body reacting to the workout? Are there improvements or is it all going downhill?
2. Your strength; are you getting stronger or weaker?
3. How much recovery time do you take after workouts? Do you maybe need more?
4. Are you doing too much cardio?
5. How is your diet? Do you maybe need more calories or a more frequent re-feed?
6. What is your mental state like, are you feeling down?

7. Washed-put feeling, tired, drained, lack of energy?

8. Are you stressed?

9. Have you been sleeping well or are you walking around like a zombie?

10. How is your appetite? Has it decreased?
11. Are you bored of the same gym routine or diet?
12. When was the last time you really got away from the gym?

And yes, over-training has happened to me a number of times too. And I had to pay the price, as we all have to. Sometime this is a small price, but sometimes it can be a lot bigger. But hopefully this post will help some of you avoid over-training or at least be able to spot the signs of it before it happens!

Love, peace and big muscles.

SOME OBSTACLES ARE JUST STEPPING STONES FOR GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS...

I would say that over this past year or so, I really realized that nothing comes as easy as we are told it does when we are little. I guess it is a way of not scaring us away from our dreams. But now it seems that the closer we get to the targets we want to achieve, the more personal, physical and psychological obstacles seem to pop up, as if out of nowhere. Now I know that this might also be a good thing, because this certain pain lets you know that you are on track and doing well. Little obstacles cannot do anything to stop you, even though at the time it might seem like the end of the world and you may think that there is no way that you can really continue....It is all just a test of life to see how much hunger you have inside.

It is like when a hiker sets out on a hike up a mountain. He has everything figured on that map he is carrying and he is happy as a fat kid with cake. The start of the hike is quite easy, he has energy, his food and supplies. Towards the middle however, as the mountain steepens, he becomes increasingly tired. His energy supplies start running low and as the air becomes lighter it becomes harder for him to breath. This is the point where the hiker faces his first test: he can easily turn around and go back, and say it was too much for him. But what about that feeling of personal failure that he would carry inside? Or he could push himself, knowing that he just needs to press on that little bit more and if he does, he will feel like the first person to have reached the top of the mountain.

Just want to say, don't be scared of these 'obstacles' or pain. It is a way of building up your character, and testing to see how much you really want those goals or achievements... be they professional or personal, big or small...

“If there is a will there is always a way”
“The sky is the limit”

Love, peace and big muscles.

THE RUSH OF BODYBUILDING

The other day I was asked which part of bodybuilding gives you that certain rush, that makes you want to go further and further, achieving more and more. Is it the buzz you get from going on stage in front of all those people, is it simply feeling that certain energy... or is it altogether something else?

I told them that I really hate going on the stage. It is the worst part for me, maybe because I am kind of a shy guy, and I never really enjoyed it. The thing that actually keeps me going is the challenge of competing against myself; trying to lift that heavier weight, trying to push to that certain rep, trying to achieve that certain sense of self-accomplishment. It is all about seeing how dedicated you are on the diet, seeing how far you are going for the target you set and trying to be the best for yourself and no-one else. When you finally see yourself improving and notice the areas that you still lack in, you can just try to tie them all together so you can achieve that perfect image that you had in mind when you just started.

Basically, it comes down to the rush of seeing yourself evolve in the gym – all the way from day one until that certain set date. It is like your body is a lump of clay and you are the artist; slowly day by day you mould the clay into a certain shape adding your own details. Then, after a certain amount of weeks of putting your heart and soul into it, you end up with something that can be called your best.

I thought that I would post this blog to let you all know why I love this sport so much. It is truly all about challenging myself – I do it for myself and no-one else.

Love, peace and big muscles.