Am I doing too much training?

JONAH-79

Full Registered User
Hi guys,
Can anyone give me any pointers, I train every day yet never see any gains in fact I just stay the same.
Monday- 1000 situps then a Boxing Circuit later
Tuesday- 1000 situps then some Tai Chi later (I do fieifighter drilling in the evenings)
Wednesday- 1000 situps then a run (barefoot runners (vibram fivefingers) between 4 and 8 miles depending on work
Thursday- 1000 situps the another Boxing circuit later
Friday- 1000 situps then wieghts (chest, shoulders, arms... one of these body groups only, changed weekly)
Saturday- 1000 situps then Isometrics followed by calesthetics
Sunday- 1000 situps then a run 8 miles plus (once a month I run 25 miles work permitting)

Above is my avaerage weekly workout although runs and boxing circuits do vary in number, I don't and won't take supplements or "extra boosts" although I do admit I eat like a slob, choclate is my main vice as I eat at leats a 100g bar a day.
Thanks Guys
Jonah
 
Without knowing what gains you are looking for I would say you are over training. Your body doesn't get stronger/faster/bigger when you train, it's in the rest periods when it develops. By training every day you are not giving your muscle fibres chance to regrow, just constantly working them and tearing then. Throw in some 24 hour periods. Sort out what you eat as well, stuff like chocolate isn't going to do you any favours. Look towards protein heavy foods, without it your muscles cannot grow and improve. It's like trying to build a house without any bricks. I quote my old regiment Q-man: Eat meat, carry big gun. Eat more meat, carry bigger gun.

Also what's with 1000 situps, what are you trying to achieve there?
 
You could try more sit ups, I can see a definate lack of focus there.
Legs is the key to strength and size.
It's a very old fashioned concept, but it's never failed to be true.
Squats with or without weights, stick a training partner across your shoulders.
Protien, eggs, milk, bananas, chicken and beef. (not all at once, but ........)
 
You could try more sit ups, I can see a definate lack of focus there.
Legs is the key to strength and size.
It's a very old fashioned concept, but it's never failed to be true.
Squats with or without weights, stick a training partner across your shoulders.
Protien, eggs, milk, bananas, chicken and beef. (not all at once, but ........)

couldnt agree more.... only 1000 sit ups a day? your not even trying.:)
Try balancing out the amout of cv that you do with the amount of weight training. Train 6 days a week, weights on one day (back and bi's) Day of cv, chest and tri's, day of cv, then shoulders and legs, day of cv and day off. you can do as many abs as you want during the week. To be honest though matey everyone has induvidual ways of training and they get to know what works best for them selves... this way works for me. balance out with a good solid diet, dont try to cut out any food groups, feel free to lower the intake of fatty foods though. Have a cheat day when you can eat chocolate and all that other good stuff. Intense training requires a high protien and carb intake also your body needs some fats aswell. Mix up the exercises, your muscles will get used to certain movements and you wont get the same benefits from each session. Same goes for ab's dont just smash out 1000 straight situps, try reach throughs-crunches-leg raises-oblique crunches etc.

Hope this is of some use.

FTV09.
 
In my peak (early 20's) I'd train 4 times a day.
4 mile run in morning, weight training before lunch, weighted march or run on afternoon and boxing training or circuits in evening taking one day off per week and using whey protein to aid recovery time on specific muscle groups trained (chest, arms, back, legs and shoulders). At the time I didn't consider myself to look "Fit" as was surrounded by people of similar capabilities.
Am now in my 30's and couldn't dream of doing half of what I used to.
I don't know how old you are. But the point I'm making is it may be only after you lose the fitness you'll realise just how fit you are right now.
Train with other people and see how you do. You may be surprised at what level you're at right now.

Manx
 
well i reckon you aint training hard enough lol. jesus what you training for back to back marathons or something, with a training regime like that you wont make any gains at all.you are not letting your body recover at all, to gain you need to have a more specific training programe, muscle groups and days you do cardio. I train 4-5 days a week, i do one muscle group each day, but have a different training programe each week so you dont get muscle memory, you can still be pretty fit cardio wise even doing weights, i do 30-45 mins cardio after each weights session. and why don't you take supplements, i take protein , creatine, pre workout to. i work in afghan and i need supplements as i dont get enough with the food i get here. so dont discount em mate.you will see gains in strength and power in all you do
 
Thanks everyone i'll try cut the chocy dwon to a decent amount!
Manxmerc, I'm 34 mate and sometimes I feel I lost what I had too, I know from the service fitness tests that I am actually the fitest guy on my station scoring 64 on the chester step test (to my shock as we have some Ironman competitors onmy station), as the pti told me.
Mad1, I like your appraoch with the cv after weights but how long do your weight sessions last?

The 100 situps are as follows:
50 heel taps, 50 half sits, 50 crunchies, 50 leg raises, 50 twist sits repeated 4 times
I got doing these after ready about a station from the H&IFRS do a catalogue shoot to produce a charity calender where all the guy started out being mocked for there physique so requested 9 months training where they all did 100 situps a day in amoungst other bits of training to achieve 6 packs.
So me being me though if those porridge loving jocks can do it so can I, although I haven't seen much change after 3 months the misses reckons i've definately firmed up in the mid section.
 
jonah I do around 45 mins to an hour max on weights mate, 2 sometimes 3 days rest. then when you go back in the gym your well up for a big session all round and its good progression to, you will see gains, but i would also look at supplements, just to give your body the fuel to keep you in good form.
 
From what ive learned you don't need to do "X" amount of situps only spend a couple of minutes as your abs are being worked from all the other excerises you are doing. Make sure you work your back also just like your biceps you do triceps too.

As Oddjob put do squats as i have been told the same in the past and obviously if you are trying to build up you need to lift heavier weights.
 
Well ladies and gents, I've given up on the 1000 sit ups a day as after 3 months it ain't improved nothing and burns way too much of my time.
That said I still train like mad, I reckon I'm over reaching with my expectations, I'm never gonna be Arnie big or have a gut like brad pit but I am fit and plan to stay that way you see I use to be a smoker and when I left the MOB I got quite out of shape by 14 stone at 5 foot 7inches thats some out of shape and refuse to go back that way.
Mad1, I do run marathon distances and usually at little notice as I do them as I feel, the other day I did 35.8km cross country mountain biking after 2 months out of the saddle... I'm just that kind of mentalist I guess (my misses agrees with you about being ott)
Kurt, you say I over train but I've built myself up to this standard even if its for no real reason but your all right in saying I should see no gains.

In case your all wondering I still work my training around my work hours but I do the programme from the back of the book 'Firefighter fit' written by James Holder every morning (which is excellent for anyone who has no room for a gym where they are) and do 2 boxing circuits, 2 runs, a mountain bike ride and tai chi every week.
And yes James Holder thinks I'm crackers too.
But all your comments are taken in guys, thanks.
 
You won't get gains doing a thousand of anything, if anything you will catabolise muscules. Does doing a thousand of anything really help you if you have to do a thousand of it? No.
 
My opinion is that you should be spending more time recovering than training - meaning more recovery days than training days.

I do twice a week now (middle 50's though) and its all HIT and sprints on a rower or stepper. Strenght is compound exercises (bench presses or pressups and chins or pulldowns for upper body and squats or leg presses for lower) interspersed with nasty sprints on a concept II which make me breath through my arse - all done as quick as poss so I am out of the gym and getting back to a bleedin' normal life, instead of the one I had in my twenties, when I was in the gym four times a week - sad bastard.
 
Jonah
I hope this thread finds you ok. I am ex military turned Strength and fitness coach. Been doing it 18 months and I have learned a hell of a lot from peoples training and where there going wrong. You may think that 18 months isnt long and I would know nothing. Well in that time I have done some travelling about over to the states to train with a top coach. I have attended seminars and worked with some of the best in the business. I have worked with a handful of good pro fighters. Grapplers,thai,boxers and cage fighters. So here is what i would do with them. If in doubt about what i am gonna tell you, do some research on HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)
Ditch the 1000 Abs your going to make yourself anterior (front) tight and cause problems for your back not doing any posterior strength work. Plus its not going to build your core strength like you think. It is like stretching an elastic band back and forth continuously. Add some isometric holds with some weight or resistance something pulling against your movement. Exchange the long runs for hill sprints or treadmill sprint work on a 10% incline to really pump those legs and get your heart rate up. I could go on for a while so my advice is look up the following guys on youtube I have worked and trained with them.
Martin Rooney
Joe Hashey
Barry gibson
Also if you want some good bodyweight training look up Hannibal for king! guy is un real. Hope this helps
 
Jonah,

What are your goals. Everyone as always is giving advice rather than asking questions.

The best coaches ask, not tell.

Only you will know if you are over training and it all depends on your goals.

PM me if you would like to discuss further.

C
 
Thanks everyone i'll try cut the chocy dwon to a decent amount!
Manxmerc, I'm 34 mate and sometimes I feel I lost what I had too, I know from the service fitness tests that I am actually the fitest guy on my station scoring 64 on the chester step test (to my shock as we have some Ironman competitors onmy station), as the pti told me.
Mad1, I like your appraoch with the cv after weights but how long do your weight sessions last?

Diet is the key. Clean up your food and all will be sent. And help or advice please contact me. I'm a nutritionist and sport scientist. It does take some persistence but it's worth while. Educating yourself about diet s very important

The 100 situps are as follows:
50 heel taps, 50 half sits, 50 crunchies, 50 leg raises, 50 twist sits repeated 4 times
I got doing these after ready about a station from the H&IFRS do a catalogue shoot to produce a charity calender where all the guy started out being mocked for there physique so requested 9 months training where they all did 100 situps a day in amoungst other bits of training to achieve 6 packs.
So me being me though if those porridge loving jocks can do it so can I, although I haven't seen much change after 3 months the misses reckons i've definately firmed up in the mid section.

Just clean your diet up and it will show through. Any advice please contact me I will be happy to help. I'm a sport scientist and a nutritionist
 
Thanks everyone,
I've recently changed to Firefighter crossfit and runnning to change things up, I'm doing all the crossfit stuff in firekit so its really mental. Last month I did just firefighter crossfit and so no i'm just incorperating running back into it.
Stevethespartan, my old basha buddy is a qualified sport scientist, but a hopeless lazy one if i'm brutal, i'm getting some nutrition advice from a website FIRERESCUEFIT.COM. He's a nice guy but keeps pushing supplements which really ain't my bag as I KNOW anything can be found in diet alone its just the commitment.
My chocolate addiction is quite bad, to the point I saw my GP as I became unbareable when I gave it up that the Mother inlaw posted chocolate through the door and wouldn't come in until I ate it! The doctor said it seemed like a hormone imbalance that the choclate was helping to balance and that because of my physical training it shouldn't be a bother continueing eating the chocolate.
 
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