Hi!

I did PPL for 4 weeks now and recently I feel exhausted every single day. I was increasing the weight on each day and I did 3 rest days a week (training 4 days a week). Increased my PR on all exercises, not only compound movements. Muscles are regenerating at good pace.
But I also started to have nightmares every night. I have troubles with falling asleep and nothing changed in my life to cause that. No stress. My legs are "twitching". I feel like legs are under constant tension, like I was sitting in a chair and it stung my thighs (just the feeling) and calves.

What are the symptoms of overtraining? Should I go for deload week or something?

Do you hydrate? When do you workout, close to bedtime? Many people have trouble going to sleep soon after working out, good hydration helps this. Keeping hydrated will also help with the muscle spasms. Those spasms in the muscles are usually an Electrolyte imbalance. Sounds like other than that you're training is going well, I would say if you are increasing your strength with no problems then you are not overtraining. I can not say much about the nightmares though.

 

 

Sounds like it. The symptoms you describe are consistent with an over-taxed central nervous system. I would take a week off and see how your sleep and training goes after that.

 

John

Thank you. I'll try that.

@Fenistoteles Are you taking a few days off as suggested? How have you been feeling lately?

Hey Scott,

I rest for last 3 days and I am no longer so much exhausted. I feel tired but I feel like I needed it. Also less nightmares. I think I will go back to training after holidays.
Thanks :)

Good plan! Sounds like the rest was what you needed.. you can put all those holiday calories to good use when you get back 😁 ðŸ’ª 

I had 9 days of rest.

Just finished PUSH-A :)
Even after rest, I was able to repeat my workout from BEFORE rest. I thought I would be weaker. My muscles are smaller (probably due to water loss in muscles?) but still strong.
Hit my PR on bench press again. Deload/rest weeks are so underappreciated!