Overtraining is bullshiit. It really is

[Tommy Brown]

When you a kid you rip and run for about 10 hrs. a day everyday, your legs never fell off. Laborers do that same heavy lifting 5- 6 days a week their arms never fall off they never get weaker, but somehow lifting weights you'll over train?

[omeo]

overtraining means that your muscles won't grow as much as they could if you had rested ...not that you won't be able to do the things you listed.

[Big H]

Pretty much what he said.

Its not that you won't be able to function; its that the limit for mass and strength gains will be seriously hindered and you may even lose. For most people overtraining results in a plateau, but those really over-doing it will start losing lean muscle mass and strength.

Plus why would you WANT to subject your body to that kind of punishment? People who do this stuff on a regular basis do it out of necessity; not because they enjoy it.

[khalid a.k.a Genocide]

There are two camps in this issue, the folks that don't believe in overtraining and the folks that do. The only way to really observe which camp is in the right path is by results. of course different people have different body/muscle structures and some people are more suitable for working out twice to three times a day. However, the number of people that do that and succeed is very small and on top of it they have superior dieting and resting. And the average folk would not succeed due to poor diet and resting.

Remember, muscle growth comes from diet, rest and training. All of those three components MUST be in sync in order for an indivudual to see constant gains. Im very mindful of overtraining, and I make sure if I extend my workout for some reason, that I'll consume more calories and rest more. So I pretty much agree with omeo and Big H.

[Perfectionist]

When you a kid you rip and run for about 10 hrs. a day everyday, your legs never fell off. Laborers do that same heavy lifting 5- 6 days a week their arms never fall off they never get weaker, but somehow lifting weights you'll over train?

Actually those labourers do get weaker and their bodies slowly break down from the abuse. They age quicker.