Side Effects: Take A Day Off

       All athletes know working out and maintaining a fit level of physical condition is crucial for competing at any level. Working out is great for muscle strength and endurance, and usually makes you feel great. But, what happens when you push yourself too hard, and the line crosses from safety to stupidity? Working out is great, but in controlled time frames. In this article, the negative effects of over-training will be portrayed. 

       One side effect of over training is muscle fatigue, which leads to body fatigue. Fatigue is when your body functions at a slower rate due to overuse, therefore resulting in tiredness, weakness, and lack of willpower. Overusing muscles in a lift can lead to muscle fatigue, which actually makes you weaker, taking away from the overall goal of fitness. It can also lead to permanent injury for the muscles, or surrounding ligaments around the muscles. Fatigue can add up, and can effect you every day if not taken care of. to avoid muscle fatigue, limit your workouts to 3-4 times a week, and take in more healthy calories instead of sugar (an example of healthy calories is carbohydrates or proteins). 

       Another side effect of over training is muscle loss. Yes, working out too much can in fact contribute to muscle loss. Over working the muscles can cause hormone imbalances in the muscles, making them shrink, and gives you the appearance of a less lean athlete. So, in retrospect, working out can actually make you weaker, if certain precautions are not taken. In order to avoid this, set your workout schedule for 3-4 days a week, and don't target one individual muscle group. Try to evenly distribute your workouts from legs, to shoulders, to your core. Being strong everywhere beats being strong in one spot, so add variety.

       Over training has many side effects, one being damaging of tendons and ligaments. training too much can put huge amounts of stress of joints and tendons, making them hurt, which is why you might feel pain in your knees, elbows, ankles, and wrists. It can tighten your ligaments, making you less flexible and slower, which no athlete wants to happen to them. Joint damage can also put athletes at a greater risk for dislocations, since the joint is not as strong and cannot properly hold the bones together.To try and avoid joint, tendon, and ligament damage, stretch before every workout, and limit the number of workouts per week to 3-4. For your stretches, try to build up a sweat before the workout, so you know that you're fully warmed up.

       In order to stay healthy this off season, just remember: take a day off. working out is a great thing, but in controlled amounts. Always try to have supervision, such as a spotter, there to help you. Always stay hydrated, and eat the correct foods to stay healthy and maximize the muscle gain. Great athletes, like Patrick Chung, never work out every day. Sometimes the best way to stay healthy is just to relax.

       

The punishment for domestic violence is hardy... Or is it?

            Just two days after Ray Rice was released and suspended indefinitely by the NFL, the Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson broke down while giving a speech about defensive end Greg Hardy. Hardy, a one time pro bowler (2013) was found guilty of domestic violence on July 15, but no disciplinary actions have been taken by the Panthers or the NFL. A new policy, put in place last month by the NFL, gives up to a six game suspension for domestic violence. But, with recent controversies over Ray Rice and Greg Hardy, is there an actual punishment? No actions have been taken by the NFL to properly discipline either player, and according to millions of opinions across the nation, the NFL actually covered the Ray Rice incident up.   (Roger Goodell, league commissioner)
           Should Goodell lose his job? According to multiple sites and organizations, he should. Rice and Hardy are not the only incidents of domestic violence that the NFL has covered up. Just three days after the new NFL ruling on domestic violence, Ray McDonald of the 49ers was arrested for domestic violence. How come nobody has heard about this case? Could Roger Goodell and the NFL be using Ray Rice's stardom to increase popularity because of his offence? What about Ray Lewis in 2000, who murdered someone but continued to play until retirement? Another strange case is that of A.J Jefferson, who in 2013 was found guilty of domestic violence. He was immediately cut from the Vikings and given a four game suspension, but Roger Goodell lifted the suspension. Who knows why? The last major unknown case of domestic violence comes from the best player on America's team, Dez Bryant. Bryant, a stand out wide receiver, who's blazing speed allows easy throws for a somewhat incapable quarterback, was arrested in 2012 for domestic violence.... against his mother. Why has nobody heard of and looked into these offences? These athletes are supposed to be role models to the general public, super humans who are to be admired, yet some fail to live up to these expectations. The question is, is the NFL indirectly responsible for all of these charges, back then to now? If by some chance the NFL decided to lock down on domestic violence and the harming and maiming of other individuals years ago, would there be less crime in the NFL now? Would Ray Rice have hit his fiancé if the punishment was banishment from the league? All I'm saying is, the NFL could have handled this better. A LOT better.

Ray Rice, pictured above