What are some signs of overtraining?

Decreased performance and mood changes are significant indicators of overtraining. Overtraining occurs when an individual exceeds their body's ability to recover from intense physical activity, leading to negative psychological and physiological effects.

When a person is overtrained, they may experience a decline in physical performance, which can manifest as reduced strength, endurance, and overall fitness levels. Concurrently, mood changes such as increased irritability, anxiety, or depression can also occur, highlighting the mental fatigue that often accompanies overtraining. This combination of physical and psychological symptoms serves as a warning sign that the body is under excessive stress and not getting the necessary recovery time.

In contrast, signs like increased energy and enthusiasm, constant performance levels, and fast recovery times are associated with healthy training progress, not overtraining. Individuals in optimal training conditions typically experience improvements in energy and maintain consistent performance without mood disturbances, while proper recovery leads to faster recovery times. Thus, the presence of mood changes and decreased performance is crucial for identifying overtraining syndrome.