sermons... "You don't have to be eternal to be divine." Now, when you're done
wrapping your head around the idea of me being Reverend Josh McCabe, preaching
sermons and being a Bible College professor, lets get back to the workouts. The
American College Of Sports Medicine, the guys who set most fitness protocol and
standards recommend Cardiovascular exercise 3-5 times/week for 20-60 minutes.
They recommend strength training 2-3 times/week. This is the general standard.
However, for advanced workout enthusiasts strength training may be done more
often. The key is not to train the same muscles two consecutive days in a row.
For instance, you may train chest on day one, back on day two, legs on day three
and shoulders, triceps and biceps on day four. Research shows that it takes at
least 24-48 hours for muscles to start to repair themselves. When you perform a
strength training workout, you are actually putting microscopic tears in your
muscles. It's when you eat, sleep and rest the muscles rebuild and become
stronger. If you are in a constant state of muscle soreness, you are
overtraining! This is dangerous. You will be in a CATABOLIC state where the
muscles actually ATROPHY or deteriorate because the body catobolizes itself for
nutrients to keep up with the demand. This means you can actually LOSE muscle
and damage internal organs. Another issue you may find with overtraining, you
will start having tendon and ligament damage (tendinitis) where elbows, knees
etc begin to hurt. When in a catabolic state, the immune system is also
impaired leaving yourself susceptible to various viruses and illness. If you
notice your sweat has an "ammonia" smell to it, you my friend have already
entered into KETOSIS. That means your body is in a bad situation! I know MOST
OF YOU will never reach this point because you will listen to your AWESOME
TRAINER and follow his workouts. However, remember the goal is to STIMULATE,
not ANNIHILATE the muscle tissue. I know working out is addicting and having
the endorphins flowing as a high unlike any other. Strength training is
demanding on the body, especially if you are being pushed through a tough
workout. It is better to opt for more cardiovascular activity if you desire to
get more time in at the gym. This will improve your cardiovascular system, burn
calories which in turn sheds bodyfat, and will allow the blood, oxygen and
nutrients to circulate through the blood stream healing damaged muscle tissue.
So again, if you find yourself in a constant state of muscle soreness,
reoccurring injuries and sick and tired, you may be overtraining! Stay anabolic
my friends... That's my take on it...