Sphere: Related Content
By Valeria Fazio
The subconscious mind can either be a powerful tool or a weapon of mass destruction when it comes to training. Intense training whether it is on the field or in the gym creates a larger physical and mental demand than our bodies are designed for which can wreak havoc on psychological systems. In understanding the power of the subconscious, ALLMAX Nutrition has created a stack powerful enough to tackle the hardest mental battles caused through training. The combining of ALLMAX’s R-ALA (a powerful antioxidant) with MUSCLEPRIME (a superior pre-workout), you are not only preparing your mind and body for the battle field, but equipping yourself with the goods to lick your wounds afterwards.
Intense training without proper nutrition and supplementation is not only damaging to your muscles but can develop into Overtraining Syndrome. This syndrome which shares many of the same characteristics as clinical depression, is a weapon produced by the subconscious that can hinder any athletes training for up to 7 months. OTS is achieved through an athlete’s negligence to a balanced training and recovery ratio. This in balance leads to a training process known as Nonfunctional Overreaching (NFOR). The Journal of Applied Psychology, Nutrition and Metabolism reports that the first signs of NFOR are decreased performance and hormonal and psychological disturbances. Similarly, stress associated with OTS is linked to muscular and psychological fatigue which occurs when inadequate recovery is provided causing levels of serotonin, an instrumental neurotransmitter for mood, sleep, appetite and cognitive function to decrease. A lack of serotonin can make it impossible to enjoy anything, even training.
With four week till show time and slightly over seven months of dieting, I began to feel the effects of OTS. An extremely low carbohydrate diet caused the levels of serotonin in my brain to plunge and I began to exhibit symptoms of that mimicked depression. I would start crying randomly, I suffered sleepless nights, and I snapped at anyone in my sight. Worst of all, I began to hate training. This syndrome however is not unique to bodybuilders and fitness competitors. Endurance runners, soccer players and basketball players can all fall victim to OTS. Exhibiting just one of the symptoms is a call for concern.
Don’t think stress can affect you? Here’s proof that even the toughest minds must go to battle.
Stress decreases the metabolic (fat burning) process making fat lose difficult and you frustrated. As the level of stress in your body increases, so does the level of cortisol (stress hormone). As cortisol increases so does insulin sensitivity. As insulin spikes your cravings skyrocket. Cravings lead to over eating and overeating leads to weight gain. Goodbye.
As your metabolism slows down so does your desire to eat. This decrease in appetite inevitably leads to weight loss and if you are not careful muscle catabolism. As you stop seeing gains in muscle size, you can lose motivation, and then stop training.
Stress can cause insomnia in some individuals. After a couple restless nights your sharp mind will disappear and you will endure a lack of mental concentration in the gym. No concentration equals no pump. No pump no drive. And so on and so forth
When you’re irritable the last thing you want to do is put yourself into crowded weight room with sweaty individuals. You may start coming up with excuses to skip a workout or straight out say you’re not going. Missing just one workout due to this emotion is just the first step in succumbing to OTS.
If you are exhibiting any of these symptoms, time off to regroup and refocus is your best bet. Not in the woods yet? Here is a stack guaranteed to keep you that way.
Preparing Your Mind With Muscle Prime
Muscle Prime is an anabolic response pre-workout supplement that not only prepares your mind for an intense workout but helps increase post workout muscle recovery.
Licking The Wounds – R-ALA and Recovery
Daily life, toxins, and training are all external factors which reek havoc on the human body creating free radicals that can dull the immune system and slow down your metabolism. Research discussed in the Journal of Toxicology and Industrial Health has shown that ALA helps reduce oxidative stress by scavenging a number of free radicals in both the cell membranes and aquedis domains.
Keeping your mind and body in tip top shape, will keep you in a training mode you can enjoy.
Posts
