How-To Monitor For Overtraining

Why It Matters

Using session RPE as a real‑time barometer lets athletes adjust load before chronic fatigue sets in, safeguarding performance and long‑term health.

Key Takeaways

• Track session RPE each workout to detect fatigue trends.
• Rising RPE despite constant load signals increasing overall life stress.
• Declining RPE suggests capacity to increase training volume.
• Compare RPE trends with external stressors for holistic overload assessment.
• Adjust training load promptly to avoid overtraining syndrome.

Summary

The video explains a practical method for spotting overtraining by monitoring session‑specific Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE). The presenter suggests rating each workout on a 1‑to‑10 scale, where 10 reflects maximal difficulty and 1 indicates a light session that could be repeated.

The core insight is “RPE creep”: if the training load (weights, volume, proximity to failure) stays constant but the session RPE climbs, the athlete’s total life stress is rising faster than recovery capacity. Conversely, a downward RPE trend signals that the current load may be too easy and training can be intensified.

He illustrates the concept by describing a scenario where an athlete adds weight but still leaves two reps “in the tank,” yet feels a higher RPE. This mismatch serves as an early warning of potential overtraining syndrome, a condition many coaches debate but still monitor.

By tracking RPE alongside external stressors—work, sleep, nutrition—coaches and athletes can fine‑tune volume and intensity, preventing chronic fatigue, preserving performance, and reducing injury risk.

Original Description

Session RPE trending upward while your training load stays the same — same weights, same proximity to failure, same volume — is a signal that your total life load has gone up relative to your recovery resources. Not your wearable score. Not your T:C ratio. Session RPE is the tool that actually maps to the underlying physiology. Full episode linked.