Training on the Edge - Learn How Over training on Purpose Can Get You Maximum Results in Minimum Time FAST!
By Nick Nilsson
We've always been told that it's bad to over train. Guess
what? Over training on purpose is where the REAL results are.
what? Over training on purpose is where the REAL results are.
Over training is NOT evil. Over training can be exactly what you need to achieve continuous and rapid results in your workout routine.
But first, what is over training? Over training is, most simply, working out too much, too soon. Your body is unable to recover from the volume or frequency of training and begins to break down. You not only lose motivation to train, you become more susceptible to injury and illness, and you may even start to go backwards in your training, getting smaller, weaker, and sicker on almost a daily basis.
So how can over training possibly be good for you? I'll tell you.
It all begins with the incredible adaptive power of your body. As you become more advanced in weight training, you will generally notice that you cannot make consistent gains for a long period of time on one workout routine. Your body quickly adapts to whatever training system you're using and hits a plateau. To get around this, it's usually recommended that you change your program every three to six weeks.
The question now is how to use this adaptive ability to your advantage.
It's really quite simple. You gradually build up to a state of temporary over training, then, when you're over trained and your adaptive processes are working to their fullest capacity for recovery, you back off. This backing off results in what is called overcompensation.
Imagine you're driving a car and climbing a hill with the gas pedal to the floor. You're giving it everything you've got but you're still going up slowly. This is similar to over training. When you reach the top, the going gets a lot easier. If you keep the gas pedal on the floor when you go over the top and head down, you're going to go a lot faster very quickly. This is overcompensation and this is where the results are.
Sound good? We're not done. Now we're going to harness the power of over training by using what I call "Controlled Over training."
The over training or ramping phase of this Controlled Over training program lasts three weeks, which is about the time it takes the body to adapt to a training program. It then backs off to a fairly easy phase for three weeks.
Notes:
- Take all sets to failure. The rep ranges are simply guidelines - if you can get more reps, do them.
- Be sure to keep your workout time to less than 45 minutes for best results. Much longer and you will break yourself down too much.
- Use a timer or stopwatch to time your rest between sets. It is critical to the success of the program to keep your rest periods consistent.
Visit the following link for a day-to-day, set-by-set outline of how this workout program works. Reading through the routine will give you a good idea of how it all comes together.
click here now
For the next three weeks, you decrease the sets and reps and increase the rest periods. This allows you to recover from the over training and take advantage of the overcompensation that occurs when the body is still working at dealing with the hard work and then you cut the hard work. Though it may feel like you're hardly doing anything at all, you should see some great results.
Continue this lower-volume training for at least three weeks. If, at the end of those three weeks, you are still making progress, keep going! Don't cut yourself off from any results. This phase could last as long as 6 weeks or more. When you start to slow down, however, it's time to ramp back up to over training. Keeping up this cycling of volume and intensity is a strategy that gives consistent results over long periods of time.
The first time you do the program, keep it exactly as it is. This will give you the best, practical experience as to how the program feels.
After that, you can try playing with the numbers a little following this general outline, perhaps starting at 3 minutes rest for the first week, 90 seconds the second week, and then dropping down to 30 seconds by the third week.
If you do decide to play with the numbers, be absolutely certain to reduce your training volume and increase your rest periods for the second three-week phase. If you don't, you will continue to over train yourself and you will break down.
The program that I've outlined uses a rep system called Micro-Periodization (Periodization is the cycling of rep ranges. It is traditionally conducted over a period of months, e.g. three months high reps, three months, medium reps, three months low reps.). Dividing the week into three separate phases, such as in this program, is called Micro-Periodization. It is an extremely effective format for building strength and muscle mass, in combination with your healthy diet and fitness regime.
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As you can see, over training is not always the horrible thing it's often made out to be. Training on the edge is where the real results are. Those who shy away from it will never make as good of progress as those who embrace it!
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Nick Nilsson has a degree in Physical Education and Psychology and has been innovating new training techniques for more than 18 years. Nick is the author of a number of bodybuilding books including "Muscle Explosion! 28 Days To Maximum Mass", "Metabolic Surge - Rapid Fat Loss," "The Best Exercises You've Never Heard Of," "Gluteus to the Maximus - Build a Bigger Butt NOW!" and "The Best Abdominal Exercises You've Never Heard Of", all designed to maximize the results you get for the hard work you put into your training.
Be sure to grab your FREE copy of Nick's 30-day "Dirty Little Secret Program for Building Muscle and Burning Fat FAST," available at click here now!
