Jose Carter2 said:I think I’m becoming addicted to working out.
For over a year now, I've been sticking to this really solid fitness program, hitting the gym five days a week.
So, what’s the issue? The issue is that I haven't trained since Saturday, and honestly... the lethargy is setting in. A bit of depression, some apathy... I just feel lost.
I’m getting back at it today, and I'll keep it up until Saturday. I know once I finish, I'll feel so much better—more focused, more confident.
Is this actually normal?
Heh, man... I've been exactly where you are.
First off, you really need to sit down and ask yourself who you're actually doing this for. What’s the actual driver behind your training sessions?
If you're doing it to impress other people or just so you don't look like a loser in front of someone else—that's a losing game.
But if you're doing it for yourself? Bravo. Good for you. 😁
That post-workout high? That’s just the endorphin rush. Congrats, you’ve become a legitimate fitness junkie thanks to those sweet, sweet hormones that hit your system after a heavy session. There’s nothing wrong with that; it’s basically like a free, healthy, natural high. But—and there's always a "but"—this often leads straight into one major trap: overtraining.
Look, if you want muscles to actually recover and grow, you can't just grind constantly; you have to eat right and, more importantly, you have to rest.
If you’re relatively new to this—say, a year or two in—and you aren't a pro athlete, hitting it this hard can be way too much for your body to handle, especially if your nutrition isn't dialed in. All you're going to achieve is muscle fatigue, which eventually triggers a total counter-effect to whatever goals you're chasing.
Also, if you’ve been following the exact same training program for an entire year, I’m telling you right now: that’s a mistake. You’re essentially running in circles. You should be switching things up every three months once your body adapts to the old movements. If you keep doing the same repetitive patterns, your body stops being challenged. It gets comfortable. And when it gets comfortable, you’re basically inviting chronic fatigue, muscle wasting, and either fat gain or extreme weight loss (depending on your specific metabolism), not to mention a massive invitation for injuries!
That guilt you feel when you miss a session? That’s pretty standard. But that’s exactly why everyone from amateur hobbyists to professional athletes uses a system of recovery. You absolutely need at least two or three rest days a week. And once you finish a full cycle of your program (remember that three-month rule I mentioned?), you ought to take two or three weeks of deloading—where you don't push yourself hard and just let your body actually recover properly.
