How Overtraining and Undertraining by ‘Feel’ Can Hold You Back
- davisptsr
- Apr 30
- 4 min read
Have you ever walked out of a workout feeling exhausted… but unsure if it was too much or not enough?
Or maybe you skipped a session because your body “felt off,” only to realize you were just under-fueled or stressed?
You’re not alone.
Too many athletes—especially dedicated ones—fall into the trap of overtraining and undertraining based purely on feel. While instinct can sometimes be helpful, it’s far from reliable. In fact, training this way can lead to injuries, plateaus, and wasted effort.
But there’s good news. There’s a smarter, safer, and more effective way to train. And it’s backed by data—not just feelings.
The Hidden Risks of Training by Feel
Let’s face it. Listening to your body is important—but it’s not always accurate.
You might feel like a beast one day and push through a heavy lift… but your muscles haven’t recovered yet.
You might feel tired and skip leg day… when really, you just needed a better warm-up and a cup of coffee.
That’s how many athletes unintentionally fall into overtraining and undertraining patterns. And here’s the kicker: you often don’t realize it until it’s too late.
Overtraining: When You Push Too Hard, Too Often
Overtraining can creep up silently. One day, you're crushing PRs. Then next, you're constantly sore, irritable, or even injured.
Symptoms of overtraining include:
Constant fatigue that doesn’t go away with rest
Decreased performance even when training more
Trouble sleeping and slower recovery times
Mood changes, irritability, or loss of motivation
If you’re training by feel, these warning signs can be easy to dismiss—until they knock you off your game.
Undertraining: When You Play It Too Safe
On the flip side, undertraining can be just as sneaky. You think you’re putting in the work, but your intensity or volume isn’t enough to trigger progress.
Signs of undertraining include:
No measurable strength or speed gains
Constantly choosing the same weights or rep ranges
Feeling like every workout is “too easy”
Hitting plateaus or losing motivation
Undertraining doesn’t mean you’re lazy. It often means you’re missing the data to dial in your effort.
So... What’s the Solution? Use Data. Not Just Feel.
Here’s the truth: Your body sends signals—but they’re not always clear.
What you really need is objective data that shows how your body is performing. Not just how it feels.
This is where power assessments come in.
Power assessments give you measurable feedback on how much force and speed your body generates. It’s not about guessing—it’s about knowing.
When you track your power, you can adjust your intensity, balance your workload, and prevent both overtraining and undertraining.
How Proteus Power Assessments Help You Train Smarter
At Analytics for Athletes, we use Proteus – Power Assessment to measure your output and performance in real time.
You get to see:
How much power you’re producing on each side of your body
Where your strengths and imbalances lie
How efficiently you're moving—down to the muscle group
Whether your training program is actually working
Think of it like a fitness truth serum. It doesn’t lie. And it makes it way easier to adjust your plan so you stop spinning your wheels.
Why Proteus Beats Your Gut Feeling Every Time
Unlike guesswork, Proteus captures real metrics like:
Explosiveness
Power Output
Muscle Symmetry
Fatigue Resistance
This isn’t a generic fitness test. It’s personalized performance analysis that helps you train smarter—not just harder.
And the best part? You don’t have to be an elite athlete to benefit. Whether you’re a student-athlete, weekend warrior, or just want to level up, Proteus can guide your intensity decisions and keep you on track.
You’re Not Lazy or Overdoing It. You’re Just Missing the Right Info.
When you don’t have data, every decision is a guess.
“Should I rest today?” “Did I do enough reps?” “Is this plan working?”
Those are important questions. But they deserve real answers.
That’s why the Proteus – Power Assessment at Analytics for Athletes isn’t just a test—it’s a roadmap.
We help you:
✅ Set smarter goals
✅ Avoid burnout
✅ Maximize recovery
✅ Break plateaus
✅ Stay consistent
All by finally understanding how your body is actually performing.
Real Talk: Don’t Train Blind
You wouldn’t drive without a speedometer. So why would you train without knowing your power output?
Overtraining and undertraining can both wreck your momentum—and they often feel the same in the moment.
But with a power assessment, you stop training in the dark. You finally see what’s working, what needs adjusting, and how to move forward.
Ready to Train Smarter? Book Your Power Assessment Today.
Training should be empowering—not confusing. So stop relying on your gut and start using the data that actually gets results.
At Analytics for Athletes, we make it easy. Our Proteus – Power Assessment takes just one session to unlock the insight you’ve been missing.
✔ Non-invasive
✔ Fast and personalized
✔ Guided by performance experts
✔ Backed by real science
Don’t let overtraining or undertraining sabotage your progress. Let’s create a training plan that actually works for you. Reach us through the information below or you can click the register button below.
📍Located in 338 stokes road, Medford, NJ
📞 Call us at 609-451-5404
📧 Or email us at erica@analyticsforathletes.com
