Being undertrained or overtrained represent the same thing: stress imbalance. We’re either lacking in stress (too much recovery) or we have too much stress (not enough recovery). What would be considered stress? Anything physical, mental or emotional that requires our energy. So technically, you can be in a state of overtraining from a great amount of stress at work - it’s not just about your workouts. The goal is to find your stress sweet spot, usually living just outside of your current comfort zone (above or below).
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How does this relate to you?
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You decide to start an intense running program or 30-day bootcamp. You’re not happy with how your clothes are fitting or how unmotivated you feel. Prior to this, you haven’t been exercising at all, most of your meals come from a window or out of a box or the microwave, and you spend your free time watching your favorite TV shows. Starting this new fitness routine will immediately put you in a state of overtraining. In just a few weeks you’re either injured or back on the couch feeling completely unmotivated and fatigued. What happened?
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Your body responded to the great deal of new stress. “Great stress simply requires great recovery.” You took on too much new stress too soon, and now your mind and body need a break. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
How do you avoid this?

1️⃣ Give your recovery (sleep, nutrition, emotional connection, active and passive rest) as much attention as your training
2️⃣ Expose yourself slowly and incrementally to new levels of stress for appropriate adaptation
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Intense kick-start programs can show some incredible immediate change - “20 pounds in 6 weeks.” But the change is usually short-lived and we end up back (or worse off) than where we started, and the cycle continues.
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As James Loehr says: “no stress, no growth. No recovery, no growth.” If you’re going to go all in on high-stress, go all in on low-stress too. Better yet, find a professional or coach who understands this concept and work with them on a training and recovery plan that will have you feeling good on day 1 AND day 365.