Too much of a good thing

[MaggioMuscle]

Hi everyone! I am new to these forum but have really enjoyed helping others with advice. Now I have a question for you.

Determined to reduce body fat, I have for the past six months, pursued an aggressive workout schedule, which has included hours on end of moderate intensity aerobics. I am a distance runner, presently running up to 13 miles as I train for a marathon in June.

I know you gotta do moderate cardio at three to five times a week for about 45mins to loose fat. So I figuered, since I love doing it and am an endurance athelete and am interested in speeding up fat loss, why not do, say, 2hrs of cardio five days a week. My experience has been less than positive.

I have enjoyed these long sessions, which include running for 30-45mins, elliptical, biking and swimming, one right after the other and in different orders and combinations. I have lost fat BUT have decided that such a schedule, along with weight training, is not sustainable. I got a cold after my first 2hr session last week. I felt nearly 100% this past Monday and did two of these cardio workouts Monday and Wed. I felt like crap on Thurs and slightly better today. Specifically, I felt lethargic and very weak. I rested all day. I felt paralyzed with fatigue, as if my illness returned.

I think that in addition to increased cortisol, immune suppression is part of the catabolism associated with endurance training. I have not experienced this with my long run on the weekends but I think its because I rest the next day. In this case, I am doing long endurance workouts along with lifting everyday. Bad idea.

Anyone else have any experience with this?

[TRAZ]

Props on the marathon....serious stuff!


I haven't personally had alot of experience with distance running (max I have ever ran was maybe 7.5 miles), but what you are saying makes sense. I would think that your immune system would really take a beating if you were doing that much cardio without adequate rest...not to mention the weight training would really be an uphill battle with catabolism considering the high cortisol levels....maybe one of those cortisol blockers would help (never researched them/ don't know if they even work). Other than that, rest is all I can say. You must really trying to get lean running that much....I mean I know you have a marathon coming up but whoa! That is alot of running.

[krenalor]

Opening up the can of worms:
Glutamine is supposed to improve athletes immune function, and I can't say either way if it works for that. I haven't been sick while taking it, but I wasn't sick not taking it. I have a week of being sick "planned" for when the weather gets warm. Happens every year I live in a cold climate, so taking Glutamine and maybe I won't this year, or maybe I wouldn't have anyway?!
Now how much glutamine gets through your stomach is the can of worms...you got a virus, and your immune system has to fight it.

[TRAZ]

Dont worry man....I am not going to argue anymore about Glutamine....

[vassille]

Originally Posted by MaggioMuscle

Hi everyone! I am new to these forum but have really enjoyed helping others with advice. Now I have a question for you.

Determined to reduce body fat, I have for the past six months, pursued an aggressive workout schedule, which has included hours on end of moderate intensity aerobics. I am a distance runner, presently running up to 13 miles as I train for a marathon in June.

I know you gotta do moderate cardio at three to five times a week for about 45mins to loose fat. So I figuered, since I love doing it and am an endurance athelete and am interested in speeding up fat loss, why not do, say, 2hrs of cardio five days a week. My experience has been less than positive.

I have enjoyed these long sessions, which include running for 30-45mins, elliptical, biking and swimming, one right after the other and in different orders and combinations. I have lost fat BUT have decided that such a schedule, along with weight training, is not sustainable. I got a cold after my first 2hr session last week. I felt nearly 100% this past Monday and did two of these cardio workouts Monday and Wed. I felt like crap on Thurs and slightly better today. Specifically, I felt lethargic and very weak. I rested all day. I felt paralyzed with fatigue, as if my illness returned.

I think that in addition to increased cortisol, immune suppression is part of the catabolism associated with endurance training. I have not experienced this with my long run on the weekends but I think its because I rest the next day. In this case, I am doing long endurance workouts along with lifting everyday. Bad idea.

Anyone else have any experience with this?

Long distance running can only go along with very light weight lifting if any lifting at all, IMO. You can either tone down your running and add 2 days a week of weight lifting(light I might add) or just run. YOu are going to end up in the hospital. No long distance runner has muscle on them, unless I need glasses.
Like you said, BAD IDEA!

[krenalor]

My brother was a long distance runner, his coach told him no weight lifting. Upper body weight just slows you down.
Don't worry Traz, I said "supposed" to...and he is already sick. Nothing can kill the virus he already has. My girlfriend's doctor gives her antibiotics when she has a cold............

[MaggioMuscle]

The virus is under control. I think its exhaustion.

I will post next weeks plan in my log. Thanks guys!

[MaggioMuscle]

I did some research this weekend. Triathaletes can train up to 6hrs per day 6 days per week! This suggests that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with long workouts, just that I have not worked up to it yet. More rest and give it time- build up to it slowly