How do you know when you're overtraining?

[Billyall469]

Hey y'all, New guy here. I spent 15 months in Iraq a couple years ago and decided to hit the gym while I was there. When I started, I was 6'3", 175 lbs and maxed out on the bench at an embarrassing 155 lbs. The day I left I put up 295 lbs and weighed in at 220 lbs. Are these decent gains? Or should I expect more? I haven't touched a weight in a couple years now and I'm about to start again. While deployed, I spent every spare minute in the gym, sometimes going back 2 or 3 times a day. I'm just wondering if I over did it so I don't make that same mistake twice. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[meloyelo7337]

what mistake are you not trying to repeat?.....gaining 45lbs or increasing your bench by over 100lbs......what was your commander putting in your cheereos?

 

[Billyall469]

Haha Good point. I guess my concern is whether or not I would have better results sticking to one muscle group and one workout per day.

 

[meloyelo7337]

Like you have read a thousand times by a thousand people.... "everyones different" "what works for me might not work for you" i change my workouts every 3 or 4 months (high rep to low rep, heavy to light weight. I am not sure how old you are but you probably are not old. that being said and the rolling stones said it best " time is on your side" take your time and switch things up and see what your body likes. my tendons would be destroyed if i went to the guy that much.

i still think the army was putting something into your chicken (and i want some)

my split was
m. chest
t. back
w. legs
t. shoulders and traps
f. off
s. arms
s. off

for the past month
i have been just going to the gym and hitting what ever feels good so no set structure.

i would not work out any body part more than 2 times a week

 

[Billyall469]

I'm 29 now. I was, and still am a rookie. I was taking all the supplements I could get in the beginning months. I also took some Deca for 5 weeks towards the beginning. I was uneducated on all that stuff and felt I was wasting money so I went straight protein and calories. I saw my biggest gains when I concentrated on diet instead of supplements and Deca.

 

[Billyall469]

As far as my routine was concerned, I didn't really have one set in stone. I would work whatever felt good at the time. I made sure to hit everything at least once a week.

 

[meloyelo7337]

diet is huge in this game. and as far as training whatever feels good that day that is what i have been doing and i like it. i hit up youtube, type in a bodybuilders name and then the body part i want to work out (say chest.... so in youtube i would type "jay cutler chest" or "branch warren chest") and then what their videos on their chest workouts. i then build my own routine from these videos. changing an excersice or two in that routine every few weeks. keep the muscles guess so to speak.

the diet by far is the hardest thing to form and then stick to.

 

[Alani]

when youre overtraining you are having the symptoms of insomnia ,fatigue ,high heart beast ,dont feel like eatling so much,bad mood,feeling tired all day,cant be able to do a normal workout so easy like you were doing it before