Stressed out after workouts

**Quester** · 05-16-2016, 07:50 PM

Anybody get real stressed after a few hard workouts?

I have to stop working out for a feww weeks to a month and a half every now and then. When I pick up again I get real stressed out toward the end of my week. Insomnia, stress, etc.

I just had a blood test for cortisol. I'll know it in a few days.

I'm 41 yrs old.

**kelkel** · 05-16-2016, 07:54 PM

Describe your workouts including length and time of day.

**Quester** · 05-17-2016, 06:59 PM

Mid day.
I switch every week from:
day 1(mon) day2 day 3 day4 day5 day6 day7
Ch/Sh legs/Back off CH/Sh legs/back off off
next week similar but,
Back/Sh legs/ch off ....
3rd week:
Ch/back ....

So, I do 3-4 sets plus a light warm up set. I do 3-10 reps (depending on the exercise/body part) which by the 2nd or third set are becoming close to failure. I start with cardio for 5 minutes to get HR up to 80-90% of max.
Except for large compound exercises, I switch between two muscle groups with rest for 1 minute between exercises (1 set cable crossover, 1 set lateral raise; 1 set cable crossover, 1 set lateral raise).

...As I write this I'm thinking that maybe this is ridiculous...I'm overdoing it.

But, I would have thought that when I was at it, I'd be too tired to proceed, however, I am seeing gains. I'm just stressed, tired, irritable, low-libido, and insomnia.

**kelkel** · 05-17-2016, 08:53 PM

Well, at 41 you may want to consider hitting each body part only once per week. Rest is just as (if not more) crucial than your workouts. It's not how much you're in the gym but the intensity of what you do while there. Judging from your schedule if you're training hard you will over-train very quickly.

In my experience (and it's a lot) the best thing I ever did as I've aged is to reduce my training frequency to an EOD schedule. This allowed me to increase my training intensity even more. Think about it. You always have a rest day between workouts. If you're a cardio guy as well the odd days can be for that.

The next thing you need, or at least should consider is full blood work. It's time to start monitoring all your levels and keeping an eye on your internal health as well. In the Finding A Doc sticky at the top of the HRT Forum is a solid list of blood work to obtain. Who knows, maybe the issue (fatigue - stress) is medical related.

Good luck!

**600@50** · 05-18-2016, 08:17 PM

I agree with Kel on everything he told you. Going to an eod schedule will help you with recovery and with injuries. Several things I have learned as I've gotten older, I'm 55 now, is you need to add in a deload week every few weeks. Your CNS needs rest as well as your joints and a deload week will help both. You'll still workout that week but with much lower weight, intensity and volume.

I've focused on powerlifting most of my lifting career and have learned to stimulate gains in 2 or 3 training sessions a week. Also if you miss a session don't worry about it. If you are not prepping for a competition it's really not a big deal. Just don't let everything be an excuse to miss a workout. It's not about how much you are in the gym but how efficient you are while you are there.

And lastly if your training is affecting your sleep and rest then you're probably training too hard for your current level of fitness. Try backing off some until your body can accommodate the added work. Make your workouts fun and add in some variation. Don't do the same thing day after day.

**Quester** · 06-21-2016, 07:13 PM

Thanks, Kel & 600. I've started working out EOD and I do feel better. Also, a guy in my Calc class is doing TRT. I have an appointment with his doc tomorrow. I've printed out the information you provided in the TRT section.
Thanks a ton.
I'll consider starting a thread on my TRT experience.

**kelkel** · 06-21-2016, 09:06 PM

Post up your BW over there when you get it. Love to look it over for you. Keep this thread going as well. Like to hear how you make out with your new training style.

**WordToPass** · 06-22-2016, 08:59 AM

wow. I'm so sorry for you. Never heard about anything similar. Usually people are acting the other way around, they are stressed out and when working out they are no more stressed. That's very strange.

**Ashop** · 06-23-2016, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by Quester

Anybody get real stressed after a few hard workouts?

I have to stop working out for a feww weeks to a month and a half every now and then. When I pick up again I get real stressed out toward the end of my week. Insomnia, stress, etc.

I just had a blood test for cortisol. I'll know it in a few days.

I'm 41 yrs old.

I think you could possibly be overtraining. One of the most common side is being stressed and irritable. You should leave the gym feeling good IMO. I think your doing too much.