Exhausted from Lifting Weights

[GraphicNovelty]

Why has nobody identified this as overtraining? Because that's what it sounds like to me.

Take a week off, see how you feel.

 

[Lagrangian]

Originally Posted by GraphicNovelty

Why has nobody identified this as overtraining? Because that's what it sounds like to me.

Because that term is used very loosely on bb/fitness boards. Most non-competing lifters will not have the sheer motivation to truly overtrain themselves to the ground.

 

[cazzzidy]

Thanks for the feedback. It's good to hear that at least some of you have experience. When I used to do P90X and run, those work outs definitely increased my energy in daily life. This program is very different.

I was feeling particularly bad yesterday afternoon, after having a relatively light breakfast and lunch (normal for most people). I gorged on a double cheesburger then eggs and bacon, then a quart of milk over several hours, and I felt great by the evening. I really think I need to stay over 3500 calories per day to survive this, which is hard to do without eating junk.

 

[AndyMcL]

Originally Posted by cazzzidy

Thanks for the feedback. It's good to hear that at least some of you have experience. When I used to do P90X and run, those work outs definitely increased my energy in daily life. This program is very different.

I was feeling particularly bad yesterday afternoon, after having a relatively light breakfast and lunch (normal for most people). I gorged on a double cheesburger then eggs and bacon, then a quart of milk over several hours, and I felt great by the evening. I really think I need to stay over 3500 calories per day to survive this, which is hard to do without eating junk.

The trick is to eat more often, not more at each meal. If you only eat 3 times during the day, then yes this can be difficult, but if you eat several small meals/snack a lot it's not as difficult. I've found that PB&Js work great as an in between meal snack. 2 PB&Js can add a good thousand calories to your daily total.

 

[Monaco]

Originally Posted by cazzzidy

Hey folks,

I just got back on the Starting Strength weight training program after taking a couple months off. For those not in the know, it's a strength program built around squats, presses and deadlifts/cleans, three days per week. I'm eating a lot more and a lot cleaner than usual and gaining about 1 to 2 lbs per week. Still in my linear progression and I'm feeling confident in the gym. I'm getting plenty of sleep.

However, just as before, I have considerably less energy than when I'm not working out. Apart from the soreness, I have a laziness that is unusal for me. An urge to lay down and watch TV. Lack of drive.

Does this happen to any of you guys when you workout really hard? Is this the beginning of overtraining? Am I simply not eating enough? Or is this, as I suspect, normal and how one should feel after squatting and yanking hundreds of pounds several times per week? It makes this type of rigorous program unsustainable (for me at least.)


It is already very obvious that your body is trying to alert you that it is over stressed so trying to do anything else just seems like way too much work. Your body is trying to get rest at any given chance so why not just listen? If you're going to insist on continuing to work out, you had better rest more and eat more whole foods (I recommend whole starches like potatoes, corn, carrots, etc...).

If you're taking protein shakes, I would skip the liquid calories and just go after whole food calories.

 

[Mr Herbert]

Originally Posted by GraphicNovelty

Why has nobody identified this as overtraining? Because that's what it sounds like to me.

Take a week off, see how you feel.

it does sound like it but iirc starting strength is only 3 days a week. unlikely he is overtraining on this program.

it does however involve alot of squats so he is likely to be tired.

 

[Mr Herbert]

Originally Posted by cazzzidy

I gorged on a double cheesburger then eggs and bacon, then a quart of milk over several hours, and I felt great by the evening. I really think I need to stay over 3500 calories per day to survive this, which is hard to do without eating junk.

fat is your friend. assuming you are getting enough protein just douse everything in olive oil, eat some butter, drink fish oil, eat some grassfed beef etc.

chicken salad with whole egg mayonaise is also a favourite.

just make sure they are good fats.

 

[miracle max]

Sleep and protein are you friends.

Try to mix different proteins like fish/red meat/chicken etc. Dont rely on just protein shakes.

 

[Lagrangian]

Originally Posted by AndyMcL

The trick is to eat more often, not more at each meal. If you only eat 3 times during the day, then yes this can be difficult, but if you eat several small meals/snack a lot it's not as difficult. I've found that PB&Js work great as an in between meal snack. 2 PB&Js can add a good thousand calories to your daily total.

Agreed.
3500+ cals on three squares per day can be, well I don't want to say hard, but less enjoyable than more frequent smaller meals. If you're really pushing it in the weight room, adding weight to the bar every session, then your body definitely needs the calories - I'd advocate with going by what makes you feel good. Try upping the cals to the aforementioned 3500 and see how you feel, just keep checking and adjusting.

If you want to go all broscienc-y, you could shuffle most of your high-GI carbs around your workouts, but I digress. As mentioned, fat is your friend, sat fat keeps you healthy and in proper lifting condition.... grass-fed beef, butter, eggs... need I say more? (that almost makes me want to go on a bulk again)