bad workouts?

I've been on a 6 day a week workout program for around 2.3 months or so. I've really made some substantial improvements physically in that time. This past week and a half I've had a series of fantastic workouts where I've pushed past many short term goals each night.

That was until tonight.

I got halfway through my workout tonight and hit the wall worse than I ever have. I can't figure it out at all. My energy level going in was fine, my diet today was ok (might have needed more water). I took a short break and tried to psyche myself into it by just cranking out some pushups. The other day at the end of my workout I pumped out 50...tonight not even halfway through I could only do 10 (I'd done 40 prior). I was so pissed I just scrapped the whole thing. My arms/chest are still super tight as I type this.

Should I just chalk this up to a crappy day or is there something I'm missing?

i've been on a 6 day a week program for about 6 months now. i've had some days where you just CANT workout. there isn't anything wrong you just need to rest. if you still feel tired tomorrow don't bother going through a shitty workout just take a day off and go back twice as hard. i went through one week where i was just so tired and my body was breaking down so i decided to take a week off and i was like brand new. sometimes you just need to know when to give your body a break even if it means missing a workout no matter how much you hate it.

cliff:
listen to your body

i disagree with you two

even if its a shitty workout you gut it out and heres why:

making excuses not to work out is a slippery slope. you'll start with one bad workout and the next time you'll be a bit too tired or you'll make it up tomorrow. the list of excuses is endless and it grows with time

you'll also build confidence when you push through a bad workout and get it done. it's easy to do things under optimal conditions but you'll test yourself more against some adversity.

obviously if you're physically unable to workout (ie: havent slept in days, violently ill, or injured) you have to rest

you'll also build confidence when you push through a bad workout and get it done. it's easy to do things under optimal conditions but you'll test yourself more against some adversity.


I dig what you're saying and I totally agree but this wasn't like that. I've done plenty of workouts that I didn't want to do in the past. This was far less mental and more physical.

Meh, it happens. I try not to ever quit and will sometimes just change things up on the fly.

I know what you're saying though. Like occasionally I'll have a day I won't even get to the work set in something. I find it more depressing to not finish than I do to finish poorly.

If anything I'd take the next day off.

Usually when I have a day like this, I just try to get through the workout or whatever at a lowered intensity. I'm doing mostly only running right now so if I have a shitty day I'll just do a slow jog, but make sure I run the same distance I set out to run. Sure it takes longer, but for me if I just say fuck it and give up it makes it so much easier to say fuck it the next day and the day after that and the day after that.....

Actually, it was weird, today I started running only planning on doing 2-3 miles and I started off slow as hell because I was really tight and didn't have a TON of energy since I didn't eat much. After the first mile I exploded and ran the second 1.5 faster than ever. It was a really good feeling.

six days a week sounds kind of ridiculous.

six days a week sounds kind of ridiculous.

depends on how you lift and what your goals are

i lift 6 days a week... i have any more than 3 days off and my CNS goes to shit and isn't primed anymore.... like today!

I don't understand why or how people lift 6 times a week. Especially when people work out the same muscle groups within 3 or 4 days of each other.

I suppose its fine if you are clinical about making sure each group is not being activated more than twice a week, but then that removes a lot of the good exercises (eg pushups or pullups that hit many different places).

Less is more I think

I lift 3 times, fight 3 times, and do Yoga once or twice.
Often though I skip at least one day. Sometimes I sub in other random things like swimming or moving someone or cutting down trees for old people, just so I don't get overly acclimated.

I don't understand why or how people lift 6 times a week. Especially when people work out the same muscle groups within 3 or 4 days of each other.

I suppose its fine if you are clinical about making sure each group is not being activated more than twice a week, but then that removes a lot of the good exercises (eg pushups or pullups that hit many different places).

Less is more I think

I don't lift 6 times a week. I work out 6 times a week.

I lift 3 days and do cardio/abs 3 days

I don't understand why or how people lift 6 times a week. Especially when people work out the same muscle groups within 3 or 4 days of each other.

I suppose its fine if you are clinical about making sure each group is not being activated more than twice a week, but then that removes a lot of the good exercises (eg pushups or pullups that hit many different places).

Less is more I think

I follow how my body feels... if I'm tired, I take days off.

However, in 4 months my bench has gone up 30lbs, and my deadlift and squat have gone up 40lbs. I have a raw powerlifting competition Dec 5... I'm pushing myself as much as I can to be able to push or pull as much as I can.

i don't lift 6 times a week but i definitely could just by making my other workouts less intense.

i lift 2x a week and do cardio 3 or 4 times a week

i find that i want to work out on my off day but i usually stop myself because ive experienced how bad overtraining can be

For the most part, if you're eating enough calories and getting enough sleep, overtraining shouldn't occur.

A lot of people don't know what overtraining is. My routines consist of 5 rep max, 3 rep max, and 1 rep max work on Bench, Deadlift, Squat, and Overhead Press... I have yet to overtrain in the past 4 months... of course, I sleep 8 hours a night and consume copious amounts of food. (in the 4000-5000 cal range)

i am under the impression i have carpel tunnel and my wrists feel super weak

i can't really do anything with my arms in fear of furthering my injury

where is the pain? does it run from your finger tips down your wrists? it could be nerve damage.

both arms more in the wrist to elbow area

i can barely jerk off