Training for comps, then illness?.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Here's my situation and I'm wondering how everyone gets on with it.

Whenever I increase the intensity of my training for competition all goes great for a few weeks, maybe I get five weeks MAX then a week or so before the competition I'm laid low with a virus and have to rest with the result that I miss valuble training for a week (or more sometimes).

Its just happened again, and its pi$$ing me off big time.

I've been training judo in as many clubs, and on as many nights as I can find training, I'm jogging in the gym and cycling to work - diet is pretty ok too and my fluid intake is pretty much spot on.

I'm putting it down to possibly over training thus reducing my immune system, or possibly my age - making recovery harder (I'm 43).

Anyone else afflicted with this before competitions?.

And yes, I'm feeling sorry for myself
.

Judomad

Mairt wrote: »

Here's my situation and I'm wondering how everyone gets on with it.

Whenever I increase the intensity of my training for competition all goes great for a few weeks, maybe I get five weeks MAX then a week or so before the competition I'm laid low with a virus and have to rest with the result that I miss valuble training for a week (or more sometimes).

Its just happened again, and its pi$$ing me off big time.

I've been training judo in as many clubs, and on as many nights as I can find training, I'm jogging in the gym and cycling to work - diet is pretty ok too and my fluid intake is pretty much spot on.

I'm putting it down to possibly over training thus reducing my immune system, or possibly my age - making recovery harder (I'm 43).

Anyone else afflicted with this before competitions?.

And yes, I'm feeling sorry for myself
.

I used to catch colds/flu all the time on the run up to fights/comps....i think its your immune system to be honest, i told my sponsor(Elite Nutrition in Swords) about me catching illness coming up to fights and now i use a supplement called "Super Multi Pak" its great, never felt better than when im on that...its 30 little packets with 6 tabs in each, take one packet a day and you'll be sorted, the likes of centrum and berocca just dont cut it for someone training often and especially high intensity training for competition..

arybvtcw0eolkf

Brilliant Gary, I'll drop into the shop and have a word with them.

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phoenix-MT

yeah sounds like immune system getting hammered. dose up on loads of supplements and as much fruit and veg as possible if your training hard. Also, i understand that you dont use as much kit as we would in MT, but i always spray my kit, mats and canvas (cant really say - spray my ring now can i ) with disinfectant every day, only take 10 mins but stops people getting ill. Gyms are breeding grounds for the likes of colds and flu,. Just something to bear in mind if your using any pads, gloves etc

Hope you recover in time.

Goodluck

arybvtcw0eolkf

phoenix-MT wrote: »

yeah sounds like immune system getting hammered. dose up on loads of supplements and as much fruit and veg as possible if your training hard. Also, i understand that you dont use as much kit as we would in MT, but i always spray my kit, mats and canvas (cant really say - spray my ring now can i ) with disinfectant every day, only take 10 mins but stops people getting ill. Gyms are breeding grounds for the likes of colds and flu,. Just something to bear in mind if your using any pads, gloves etc

Hope you recover in time.

Goodluck

Thanks, and the thing is.

Half that wouldn't be a problem if people didn't think its macho to train through colds and flu's, thereby passing 'em along.

I've said it so many times over the years, 'you got a cold or flu - feck off home, I don't want it'..

Tbh, I've never seen any club disinfect mats or equipment - not once.

yomchi

Mairt wrote: »

Thanks, and the thing is.

Half that wouldn't be a problem if people didn't think its macho to train through colds and flu's, thereby passing 'em along.

I've said it so many times over the years, 'you got a cold or flu - feck off home, I don't want it'..

Tbh, I've never seen any club disinfect mats or equipment - not once.

Martin, Gary is right you need to be supplementing your diet when you're training hard.
I've also found Glutamine to be a great benefit to building the immune system when training is getting pushed to the limit. It probably doesn't help the fact you're probably doing crazy ours on the job also so your rest times are messed around.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Jon wrote: »

It probably doesn't help the fact you're probably doing crazy ours on the job also so your rest times are messed around.

Yup, and on a 24hr shift tomorrow and not off until Sunday morning - I'll be packing Sudafed and Paracetamol for this long haul

arybvtcw0eolkf

CLICKY FOR THE STORY

And we think we have it bad here!.

Honestly, is there a club out there who regularly (or ever) disinfect their mats and equipment?.

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MaeveD

Brushed every day, vacuum cleaner at least once a week, washed and disinfected regularly. We do our best to keep the mats clean, it's much easier now they're down permanently

TomRooney

Mairt wrote: »

Yup, and on a 24hr shift tomorrow and not off until Sunday morning - I'll be packing Sudafed and Paracetamol for this long haul

now now mairt, you neglect to mention for 20 of those 24 hours you will be sleeping or watching sky movies, while the red arsses will be out on the beat:D

i always get that too, i train hard then all of a sudden i get a flu or somethin then im out of action, it drives me nuts, i imagine it is a mix of burn out and dirty feckers spreading germs in the gym,

the other option is to build up your training slower over a longer period and that may have less of an impact on the immune system.
also there is a small bottle of dettol alcohol hand wash you can by in the shops for about 3 euro, you dont need water or a towel to use it, just squirt a bit on the hands and in 15 seconds it kills all germs, i use it before and straight away after training.

arybvtcw0eolkf

TomRooney wrote: »

now now mairt, you neglect to mention for 20 of those 24 hours you will be sleeping or watching sky movies, while the red arsses will be out on the beat:D

.

hehehe..

Actually I spent almost the entire duty on my back absolutely dying.

Things have moved on and now I'm in agony with an ear ache too, I swear if I was a horse I'd be taken out and shot

Thanks for all the advice guys.

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dunkamania

Mairt wrote: »

I swear if I was a horse I'd be taken out and shot

Mairt, we are taking a trip to the glue factory, if you are interested....

arybvtcw0eolkf

dunkamania wrote: »

Mairt, we are taking a trip to the glue factory, if you are interested....

LOL, lets make this a sticky

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rondog

That could have been me writing OP.
Same thing used to happen me when i was training intensely,not particularly for a comp/fight but putting in serious training in the gym.I found it was more to do with longer training sessions ie when id be training for over 2 hours doing say BJJ and Muay thai rather than short weight sessions.
anyway I was out in the same place in swords,elite nutrition and they advise using protein shakes with all the amino acids especially Glutamine which is proven to aid your immune system,Not only do i have more energy now ad dont feel as fatigued as i did after training but i havent had a cold /virus since i started using it.

Such a beautiful hollywood ending:)

JohnMc1

Judomad wrote: »

I used to catch colds/flu all the time on the run up to fights/comps....i think its your immune system to be honest, i told my sponsor(Elite Nutrition in Swords) about me catching illness coming up to fights and now i use a supplement called "Super Multi Pak" its great, never felt better than when im on that...its 30 little packets with 6 tabs in each, take one packet a day and you'll be sorted, the likes of centrum and berocca just dont cut it for someone training often and especially high intensity training for competition..

Sounds great. Where can I get that?

fitz0

I get that a lot too. Don't think its age related I'm only 20. Im convinced its the air conditioning in the gym. They recycle the air in my local gym and pump it down on top of the treadmills. I stopped using the gym when I went back to college and I've been healthier since.
I also got some Wellman multivitamins which probably helped. I used to get awful tired at times as well but since starting the vitamins and cutting down on dairy products I've noticed a real improvement.

TKD SC

Mairt wrote: »

Half that wouldn't be a problem if people didn't think its macho to train through colds and flu's, thereby passing 'em along.

I've said it so many times over the years, 'you got a cold or flu - feck off home, I don't want it'..

Hmm, have had a cold with flu symptoms last few days ("man-flu" I've been told!) - just not feeling great but was going to train tonight anyway as figured I'd be grand to train through. Maybe I should just stay at home - might help me get over this quicker and also wouldn't pass the cold to anyone else (bjj tonight so obviously close contact)...decision time...

arybvtcw0eolkf

TKD SC wrote: »

Hmm, have had a cold with flu symptoms last few days ("man-flu" I've been told!) - just not feeling great but was going to train tonight anyway as figured I'd be grand to train through. Maybe I should just stay at home - might help me get over this quicker and also wouldn't pass the cold to anyone else (bjj tonight so obviously close contact)...decision time...

Well I know I don't appricate it when someone shows up for training with a cold or flu.

Its not only me I'm concerned about, but I then risk taking it home to my children - time off school!. And me - time off work.

TKD SC

Mairt wrote: »

Well I know I don't appricate it when someone shows up for training with a cold or flu.

Yeh, think I better just give it a miss. Annoying though! Don't think I'd have enough concentration anyway for it. Just back from the chemist so gonna dose myself now!

Khannie

I was the same for a long time. I've found a combination of a few things has really helped me.....

proper sleep
decent diet (lots of fruit / veg and slow release carbs)
lots and lots of protein
multivitamin

--amadeus--

It's pretty well proven that intensive exercise will suppress your immune system. There is a really good article about it here (it's talking about marathon training but the principals are the same). Interestingly it says that supplement have little or no effect and that excess Iron and Zinc can actually hinder your immune system rather than help.

Longer training cycles that build more slowly to a peak giving your body time to adapt (along with all the hygiene) would probably be the solution, especially as you get older.