If you consistently perform any type of sport or physical activity, then you should be aware of overtraining. Overtraining (OT for short) is a a syndrome which occurs as a result of training to frequently without resting enough.The thing which makes this syndrome so bad is that it creeps up on you over a period of time. It's not like a sprain or break which just happens instantly.You actually have to wear your body out until it can no longer recover itself adequately. Having said that, overtraining is most commonly a worry of athletes who do a lot of frequent, high intensity training. Nevertheless, if you perform any kind of frequent training, then you are a potential victim of overtraining, so you should make yourself aware of it anyway.I'm often asked what's the best way to treat OT. My answer is simple- the best way to treat OT is to avoid it!Below are some common symptoms of overtraining:
Lethargy
Unexplained decreases in performance
A loss of motivation to perform physical activities
Feelings of depression and low self worth
Increased occurrences of injuries
Increased resting heart rate
Increased occurrences of common sicknesses such as colds, due to weakened immune system
Difficulty sleeping
Headaches
Loss of appetite
Difficulty concentrating
Those are the most common warning signs to look for, but there are other ones which may occur.If you're experiencing several or more of those symptoms, then you may want to take some time off, or reduce your trainning intensity until the symptoms go away.Trust me, you really don't want to battle with overtraining, so it's best to rest and have to make up some lost ground, than it is to keep going, then overtrain and have to start from there! Also, be sure to keep your training sessions varied. By varying the way in which you workout, you allow certain muscles to take breaks, and that will keep you from overtraining as well. If you feel that you've already overlooked the symptoms and you've already over trained, then the only thing which you can do is take a break from training. Depending on the severity of the syndrome, this break should be anyhwere from a few days to a several weeks.I've overtrained before, and it took about a week of doing nothing for my symptoms to go away. It will vary from person to person, so as with everything else, use your head. Also, you may speed your recovery by performing very light exercise every few days while on your break. If you still feel down after taking a few weeks off, then you should consult your physician because you may have a more serious, underlying condition.All in all, if you pay attention to your body, then you can avoid OT syndrome with relative ease.In most cases, if your training program is properly designed, then you'll naturally incorporate enough rest into it. That way, you won't have to worry about tearing your body down beyond the point which it can recover. Remember, it's a tortoise's race, so there's no rush. Be good to your body and it will be good to you! Good luck!
Henry Goddard, who popularized IQ testing in the US, perhaps did more than any other individual to convince the general public that IQ scores were static and genetically determined. Goddard even went so far as to recommend segregating those with low IQ scores from the rest of society. His thoughts and actions would have horrified Alfred Binet, the French psychologist who invented IQ testing and who firmly believed in the concept of human individuality and potential. Binet described the idea of unalterable intelligence as "brutal pessimism." The idea that a person's relative intelligence was inherent and unchanging soon became conventional wisdom. But in the decades since Goddard championed the testing of immigrants as they landed at Ellis Island, a growing body of research has proven that Binet was right and Goddard was wrong. All kinds of environmental and circumstantial factors determine and modify a person's intelligence over time. But if IQ isn't fixed, it follows that we must be able to do something to make ourselves smarter. Until earlier this year there had been a dearth of concrete ideas about how to successfully accomplish this. Brain Training That Makes You Smarter Two capabilities comprise our measured intelligence: crystallized intelligence, or what we know, and fluid intelligence - our ability to solve novel problems. In 2007, Graeme Halford (Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Queensland) proposed that both fluid intelligence and working-memory place demands on the brain's processing capacity. In other words, when we're trying to figure something out at the same time as holding information in our mind, the two tasks compete for brain power. Halford's theory inspired researchers from the Universities of Michigan and Bern to propose that increasing working-memory capacity might free up brain power to dedicate to solving problems. Using a specially designed exercise to progressively train visual and aural working-memory capacity, the scientists set about testing their hypothesis. Using questions from a standard IQ test and comparing to a control group who weren't trained, the study showed that fluid intelligence did increase with working-memory training. Moreover, the increases were considerable. With just 19 days of training, all participants in the trained group recorded increases over and above the control group of more than 40%. The team published its results in April of this year, engendering a good deal of attention. Not surprisingly, many people who read about the study wanted to try the training for themselves. (In the interests of full disclosure, I should point out that I was one of those people; my company launched a commercial version of the working-memory training back in June. I've experienced myself and heard from many customers that the training works just as well outside the lab. We've even had people increase IQ scores on full-scale moderated tests - a finding that the researchers hesitated to predict.) With this landmark study, we can finally get beyond the idea of IQ as a label, just as Binet hoped.
Both Rawlins Goldston & Martin G. Walker are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Rawlins Goldston has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness. Rawlins Goldston has been in the health and fitness game for years. He's spent countless hours in the gym, and has acquired a wealth of knowledge and tips to pass on to others. Learn more about him by visiting his website at. Rawlins Goldston's top article generates over 590 views. to your Favourites.
Martin G. Walker has sinced written about articles on various topics from Brain, Pilates Exercise and Cosmetic Surgery. Learn more: . Martin Walker is a member of The British Neuro. Martin G. Walker's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.