Did you know that I tell every single one of our clients that they should overtrain? In fact I personally don’t even believe in overtraining nor do I think that there is such a thing as “too much” when it comes to exercise and physical activity if planned out in advance with intelligence and common sense.

I know what you’re thinking. Why would I tell my clients to overtrain? Isn’t that after all counterproductive or even dangerous? According to countless scientific studies the body grows when it’s at rest, so why would you want to spend so much time training if in fact you should be resting? Well, I’m no scientist but I like to conduct my own studies in the gym on my own body rather then listen to some brainiac who tells me how to train for my specific health and fitness goals.

Let’s face it, with the constant advancements in technology we as a society have become lazy. Rather then walk a few blocks, the majority of people would rather drive or take public transportation. Instead of taking the stairs most of us will opt for the elevator. And when it comes to diet and exercise, if there’s an easier or quicker solution to get the results we want, we will buy into it.

I was lucky enough to grow up in an environment where public transportation was not an option. I learned how to drive at a young age but rarely use a car if at all. I do take the elevator when I’m in a rush however if I’m early or have time to spare I always take the stairs. And when it comes to diet and exercise? The reality is, is that there are no quick fixes or easy solutions, YOU HAVE to put in the time and YOU HAVE to put in the effort.

So what does this mean?

Well for one, I’m obviously perfect in every single way, shape and form. ;^)

But kidding aside all these advancements have made people afraid to actually use their bodies. I even see it happening in the gym these days. The use of machines are more popular now then ever. I constantly see men lining up to use the pec deck to train their chest rather then grab a couple of dumbbells to do their chest flys. I see women who sit on the leg abductor machines barely breaking a sweat hoping to “tone” and “firm” their butts instead of just jumping into the squat rack and doing some deep barbell back squats. Now some people would argue and say that machines are safer to use if you don’t know what you’re doing. But that’s not a valid excuse! Why the hell don’t you know what you’re doing?!?!?! Remember, the gym can be a dangerous place. People get injured all the time. However a good way to avoid an injury and learn how to design an effective workout is to enlist in the services of a qualified personal trainer with a good reputation who you know and trust. A few sessions with a knowledgeable trainer may cost you a couple hundred dollars, however the investment in your physique and health will be more then worth it.

Back to the topic though, I rarely see anyone who trains too much. In North America most of us have been groomed to believe that we should work 5 days a week and 8 hours a day. Weekends are a time to relax and rewind before we have to go back to work on Monday and do it all over again. This mentality seems to carry over to training as well for some reason. Most people will train 3-4 days per week and then make sure to take the other days off to rest. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with this mentality except for the fact that our bodies are not a job and they don’t respond to “clocking in” and “clocking out” nor do they understand what weekends are or the definition of a “rest day”.

The human body is very smart. It knows when it’s hungry, it knows when it’s thirsty and it knows when it needs rest. It doesn’t necessarily work on a 9-5 schedule. It doesn’t know the difference between a Sunday and a Monday. Some days it feels more sore then others while other days it feels strong and energized. This is why I believe and always have believed that we should always listen to our own bodies when it comes to exercise and physical activity rather then what some fitness guru at the gym or science book tells us to do.

Even though I don’t believe in overtraining I won’t ignore that it can exist. But not to the extent that some so-called fitness experts would have you believe. I do think that a person can overtrain their central nervous system and burn themselves out both mentally and physically. But in my opinion this person would have to be a complete idiot to not listen to the warning signs it’s body starts to give them before it starts to shutdown.

I’ve always told our clients to listen to their bodies. And by listen, I mean really listen. Sometimes there is no real reason as to why your body may require a break from training with weights or running on the treadmill. Don’t question it when it does, just give in to it. But this doesn’t mean you have to give up all physical activity for that one day or few days. If you can’t make it to the gym go for an extra long walk. If you are recovering from an upper body injury then use the time to work on your lower body.

If you really are overtrained and feel mentally and physically exhausted from your workouts, then it’s time to take a break and refresh, recharge and revitalize your body. But remember, the longer the break the harder it will be to get back into your regular exercise routine. Our bodies were not designed to sit around working on a computer or watching TV all day. Nor were they designed to ingest greasy fast food and frozen dinners (but we’ll save that topic for another blog). Our bodies crave exercise. Without it, our muscles become weak, our bones become brittle and as a result our immune system weakens as we start to become older.

Yes, it’s true, you only live once so you might as well enjoy your life. But how much enjoyment can you have if that life is cut short or becomes limited due to a health issue that could have been avoided with proper diet and lots of exercise.

So feel free to take your scheduled rest days and “take it easy” because that’s what we’re told to do. For myself, I’m going to continue to listen to my body and continue to overtrain until it tells me that it needs a break.

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove