How to Avoid Workout Fatigue to Maximize Muscle Growth - Part 1

Anyone who has picked up a set of weights hasThe Effects on Hormone Levels
or will experience symptoms of workout fatigueVarious studies indicate that negative vigorous
at one point in their muscle building program.exercise effects the levels of hormones, as well
Serious injury, chronic exhaustion, and muscle lossas the hormone response in the body. Hormones
are the results of excessive workouts. Thisplay such an important role in the muscle building
condition is very common among athletes andprocess. So much so that excessive workouts
bodybuilders in particular. They figure training ascan have a detrimental effect on your training
much as possible is the fastest way to massiveprogress.
muscle gain.It has been shown to:
This couldn't be any further from the truth.- Decrease testosterone levels
Training too much, or at too high of an intensity- Decrease thyroxine levels
will lead to workout fatigue. This doesn't mean- Increase cortisol levels A deadly combination is
you should put less effort into your routine. It's athe increase in cortisol levels along with the
given: Whether you're a bodybuilder, athlete, ordecrease in testosterone levels. This leads to
just someone who wants to add some additionalprotein tissue break down which may lead to a
mass to your frame, you need to train hard andloss of muscle tissue.
become consistent. In order to get the most outThe Effects on the Immune System
of your genetics, you have to progressivelyPerhaps one of the most alarming repercussions
overload the muscles. This is accomplished bywhen you over-train is it's negative impact on the
increasing the weight and/or intensity of eachimmune system. This is your body's first defense
weight training workout.against harmful viruses and bacteria.
The problem is, many of us who attempt toIt can drastically decrease the levels of antibodies
increase the intensity of our workouts getand lymphocytes in your body, making you much
insufficient amounts of rest, or worse, amore susceptible to illness. This means if you're
combination of both. The trick is finding the rightworking out too much, chances are, you may
balance between workout volume, intensity, rest,become sick. Since you'll have to skip workouts
and recovery. That's exactly what I'll cover in thiswhile you're under the weather, your muscle
article.building progress will slow down considerably.
The Effects on a Bodybuilder's Nervous SystemThe Effects on the Metabolic System
Let's take a look at some of the effects ofHere is a list of how this can effect the metabolic
workout fatigue and how to prevent it fromsystem. These symptoms are the ones that are
happening in the first place. Extreme weightmost commonly discussed. They're also the ones
training effects both the sympathetic andwe can't ignore:
parasympathetic nervous systems in the following- Micro tears in the muscle
negative ways:- Chronically depleted glycogen levels
- Higher resting heart rate- Slow, weak muscle contractions
- Weak appetite- Depleted creatine phosphate stores
- High blood pressure- Excessive accumulation of lactic acid
- Weight loss- Extreme DOMS (delayed onset muscle
- Trouble sleepingsoreness)
- Increased metabolic rate- Tendon and connective tissue damage
- IrritabilityOver-conditioning your muscles effects the entire
- Early onset of burnout If you experience morebody. It can seriously impact the results of your
than one of the symptoms outlined above, Imuscle building program. Next time, we'll take a
recommend evaluating your routine as soon aslook at the different types of workout fatigue
possible.and what we can do to prevent it.