How can you tell if you're overtraining? I'd like some "expert" advice from some 50 somethings (or a coach of 50 somethings!) about how to know when what I'm doing is too much. I've added weights to my swimming - I go three times a week for weights - which I follow by a fairly easy swim to loosen up my muscles. I'm still frequently sore the next day (and the next, and the next) however - but I know this is to be expected - if I didn't feel sore, I wouldn't feel like I was actually even pushing myself. the other three days of the week, I generally put in a good 90-120 minutes workout, getting in from 4500-6000m. Sometimes, like today, I get to the point where I just can NOT muster up the energy to put any real effort into the swimming - today, for instance, I did fairly well for the first 3000m, but then once we started the "real" workout, the first main set, I was just pooped. I could swim, but at only a slow pace. (By this I mean that an interval I usually can keep on a 200 by about 10 seconds, I missed by 1 second - and I was wearing zoomers. And the thought of doing like a 50 sprint, was out of the question.) This was NOT a day that I swam following weights, BTW.
Do you think this is a nutrition problem, and that I'm just not getting enough protein in my diet? I have to say categorically, that eating BEFORE practice is out of the question - I swim at 5:30 in the morning, and would probably barf if I ate before practice, although I do sometimes eat some Shot Blox. Am I overtraining & need to cut back somewhere? Or is this a short term transition (it's been going on & off for weeks now) & I need to just hang in there?
Thanks in advance!
You guys are all so great! So supportive and encouraging! We'll see on the eating thing, I have to also then figure out when to take my thyroid (it's supposed to be taken on an empty stomach, an hour before eating). That's a big part of why I resist eating right off, but I might be able to take it before bed, if I can stay out of the ice cream!
I thought you could eat as little as 30 minutes after taking it? The new research says thyroid meds are absorbed better if taken before bed. But I have the same problem as you -- finding a time when my stomach has been empty. I have to take mine 2x day, and it is a huge pain.
I agree with Kirk! I could never get out of bed at 5:30 to train; it takes some real discipline.
I agree with Kirk! I could never get out of bed at 5:30 to train; it takes some real discipline.
When you can't sleep past 4.30am as is often my problem, a 5.30am swim is easy!
Some may find this a typical distance swimmer comment but I love swimming distance sets in the morning. It's like my wakeup coffee.
I would be a member of this age group. I do the following:
- Before workout one or two energy bars, or one banana. Wash down with Alo Water, or Cocunut water
- average workout, depending on time in pool, minimum of 2500 meters, up to 4000 meters.
- Saturday and Sunday (during summer) are my double dip or triple dip days. (Double Dip - 4000 meters in AM, 2000 meters in PM) (Triple Dip - 4000 meters in AM, 2000 meters in early afternoon, 1000 meters in late afternoon)
- follow up each workout with another banana, and coconut water
- Monday is a no swim day
Currently a big fan of MiO Engery) over Gatorade and PowerAde.
Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Get a massage once a month. Take a multi-vitamin on workout days.
Hey Boninator! Haven't heard from you in a while! I agree with you, work can be exhausting sometimes! But I swim at 5:30 am so I can't use that as an excuse, lol!
Hey, you've got to roll out of bed to get to that 5:30 workout. That's the hardest part!