overtraining, yet still making gains?

[ascendant]

well, here's the info... i had worked out for about a good 10 years straight, but the past 2 years i had to take a layoff for numerous reasons. been working out now again for about 3 months or so and haven't touched gear since i've started again yet cause i'm making good enough gains without it for now. however, i keep overtraining again and again and having to take days off cause of it. maybe i'm not overtraining, but i'm getting many of the symptoms of it. well, here's more info...

i've tried lowering my volume some, but i still keep overtraining. i only train 4 days a week, and do between 9-10 sets for most bodyparts, except for legs which i do 12 (including quads, hams, and glutes total). i'm definitely eating enough, i'm getting enough sleep (at least when i don't have insomnia from the overtraining), and not sure where my problem is?

i know people typically say volume is what determines overtraining, but i don't think less than 9 sets for a bodypart would even be adequate? i mean, i was used to doing like 12 sets for biceps, and i'm only doing 9 now. i'm thinking my problem might be my intensity and that maybe i shouldn't push it so hard in the gym and maybe i should take less sets to failure? it's just hard with how i used to train to be doing so much less.

the weirdest thing is even though i feel as if i'm becoming overtrained almost every single week, i'm still gaining lean mass. i'm keeping track of both my weight and bf%, and my lean mass is still going up?

not sure if it helps as to pointing out where my problem is, but my overtraining problems include insomnia, headaches, tiredness (to the point where i'll just want to sleep literally all day long save for eating), occasional excessive/prolonged muscle soreness, and occasionally irritable. to me, it seems as if the muscles themselves are having no problems adapting, but the issue has something to do with my cns having a hard time adjusting? funny thing is, after i realize i've overtrained from a workout, all i need to do is skip a day or two of training and i'm fine again. i believe maybe i'm not overtraining, but just keep going borderline and keep backing off before i do?

well, at this point, like i had said, i'm thinking of keeping the volume where it's at and just dropping my intensity some. if anyone has any other ideas of where my problem might be all things considered, i'm all ears. thanks for hearing me out and for any info you might have. i'm just really at a loss at this point as personally i don't see my routine as anything crazy right now that my body shouldn't be recovering from.

[1buffsob]

It sounds like your cns is the only problem. Muscles seem to be recovering fine from the workouts if you're still making good gains. My advice would be to lay off the 'rep to failure' routine. Try to only do it one set in a workout, preferably at the end of a workout. Going to failure may is hard on your system, and may be partly responsible for your symptoms.

As for the volume, I don't think it would be a problem. All my workouts are at least 16 sets. But again, everyone is different.

Let me know how it goes bro.

1buffsob

[ascendant]

It sounds like your cns is the only problem. Muscles seem to be recovering fine from the workouts if you're still making good gains. My advice would be to lay off the 'rep to failure' routine. Try to only do it one set in a workout, preferably at the end of a workout. Going to failure may is hard on your system, and may be partly responsible for your symptoms.

As for the volume, I don't think it would be a problem. All my workouts are at least 16 sets. But again, everyone is different.

Let me know how it goes bro.

1buffsob

thanks for the feedback bro. yea, like you said, the cns issue is the only thing that makes sense to me, saying as if it were a muscular issue, i shouldn't still be making the gains that i am.

gonna ease off on the intensity a bit and i'll keep you guys posted.

[helium3]

def the cns.