Working Hard Or Being Stupid?

This is a discussion split fromy my journal.

The topic is that training can keep you healthy or mess you up!

Sensible training might keep you healthy, but not what I've done in the past. 2.5 years ago was when this problem started [chronic fatigue syndrome], and I still haven't got close to 100%! However, now I know what to do to fix it I think it'll come relatively quickly. TBH I am going more away from the extreme training, and somewhat regretting the name of this site!

I think a lot of problems come from people trying to do 'hardcore' workouts all the time and not taking care of their body. I think some workouts that may be ok at certain times in the plan for high level athletes with great work capacity are being used by 'average joes' and it's neither an optimal nor sensible way to make continued progress...which is why I am cautious about the kind of stuff you and Jamie are doing.

I think even Ross Enamait has got the wrong end of the stick when it comes to GPP (although I haven't read all his stuff, and his opinions may have changed). Admittedly, I have probably contributed to the 'hit it hard every time you train or you're a pussy' mentality, but I have totally changed my thinking about that over the last few months.

I may have some furious backpedalling to do, but that's better than messing up anyone's career in sport I think...

Interesting that you say that, I think the main prblem comes from still hammering yourself in the gym when you really should be having a rest. I've been more than guilty of it in the past, where I've felt rough or really sore and still gone and trained as hard as I could to avoid being a 'pussy'! even if the only person who thought it was me!

At the moment I'm really rating the Ross stuff, I haven't trained this frequently before, but it's going well, got very lean very quick, fitness has come up really fast, but I have to admit I've taken the weekend off as I was starting to feel it (only missed one session).I have started to modify it slightly, seperating conditioning from strength training as it was too much, but overall it seems to be having apositive effect.

I think also, there is a world of difference between how people train. I've seen people (as I'm sure you have) who train for years, but never hard enough or with enough attention to diet/rest etc. When I was living in Luton I trained at a full on powerlifter/bodybuilder gym and was getting stronger each week training as hard as I had ever had (don't know if it was extreme training!) but because i was able to get a full 8 hours in and eat well 7 days a week the progress just kept coming, I never got ill always had loads of energy, it was wicked! When I finished there my routine (in life) changed, different food, different sleep patterns, trained at different times and it all ground to a halt...

There's so much emphasis placed on the training and not enough on the support side of things. But then there isn't much exciting about a 'hardcore' sleep session, enjoyable as it is! I'm also a littl nervous of trying things like really abbreviated routines as it dosn't really seem like you're doing anything....swings and roundabouts..

matt@westfightcompany wrote:
There's so much emphasis placed on the training and not enough on the support side of things.

This is exactly what I was thinking of yesterday as I will be emphasising this in the intro of my seminar.

I'm also a littl nervous of trying things like really abbreviated routines as it dosn't really seem like you're doing anything....swings and roundabouts..

As usual, it depends what part of the plan you are using them for, also training age. A beginner is wasting their time doing more than one set, and should be doing more exercises not more sets. A world champion powerlifter will go backwards fast doing one working set, most of the time.

Is that the seminar at Leigh's? Shame I'm flat out wit uni stuff as I would have liked to have gone to that, if you do another one in summer let me know as Leigh seems really impressed with what you sorted out for him and I'd be interested to learn more about it.

Good luck with it anyway!

Yep...in fact, I should put up a post about that!

I hear ya Alex.

Sometimes for me even 1 super intense session ( you know the type where youve hammered your cns so much your shaking like a leaf after and you have threw up etc ) is enough to land me with a cold for a week or so, so fucking annoying. I and I'm sure everyone else on here would train til near death everyday of my life if it meant improving but we all know that wouldn't happen. Of course super intense sessions should be like everything else...in moderation. And as we all know when it comes to avoiding physical and mental burnout periodization is the key. I think you should read some off Ross' stuff on lin/con/und periodization and see if you agree on what he says.

It's only been a few hours since I did a workout and I have been sniffling and sneezing all night which is usually a sign that a monstrous cold is coming tomorrow I guess I deserve it as I have only just recovered from what was either mild food poisoning or a nasty bug and I probably wasn't ready for a tough(ish) session.

It's annoying when people moan at you for having rest days calling you lazy etc etc.. My mates are the worst for it, I however take great pride in knowing that I am doing more good than if I overdid it. In the past it was always 2 steps forward, 3 back but now I listen to my body more and eat right I am pretty much improving all the time.

By the way the offending kebab was eaten on a saturday ( cheat day ) so I was being good..honest