Is this normal?

[Anniehow]

For the past month I wake up feeling like I've been hit by a truck.

I've been doing NROL for 14 months, (Every M-W-F) I did break-in; fatloss1, hyper 1, Strength1; then 2; then 3. I'm in the middle of Hyper3. About 2 months ago i read through NROL4W and I wanted to finish NROL before I started it, but I have incorporated HIIT every other workout for 2 months.
I have taken a week off in between every program.
My diet isn't perfect, but i do get plenty of the important stuff (and too much crappy stuff)
I'm not planning on quitting, I enjoy it too much, but my body pain is just getting too much.
Has this happened to anyone else? Is this just a bump I have to push through. Should I be taking more time off in between? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Gisele

[Bytsi]

I don't know that I have an answer for you, but I wonder if you could elaborate about your nutrition a bit more, and are you training to maintain, build muscle, lose fat? Are you eating low-carb? What are you calories usually, and what are your macros (if you know)?

My first thought is that maybe you need a longer break - 14 months is a lot with that kind of intense training, although you're saying you have been good about week breaks...

[Aoife]

Take a break.
See if you feel better.
Maybe it's the extra activity.

How's your food intake? Are you eating too little now that you've added more activity? Are you eating much more of the crappy than you used to? If you've upped your sugar intake, or something, you could be causing some bad crashes.

Rest and try cleaning up your diet a bit. Maybe not even big changes, but small tweaks to help you feel better and recover faster.

[Anniehow]

My diet has been about the same since I first started. It's too high in fat, about 2000 to 2200 calories. (i'm 5'10, 195lbs) probably about % 35/25/40 Carb/protein/fat. It's a constant struggle for me to rectify. On days I workout I make a protein shake after i work out as my xtra meal. I eat lots of grean leafy veggies, and I know I need more protein, but like I said it's hasn't changed significantly.
I elated with my results overall, I've only lost about 5 lbs, but I've gone down 2 dress size. I'm just finding my joint pain to be extremly high lately. Similar to the doms I get when I start a new program, but it doesn't go away after a few days like it used to.

[Cynic]

It could be elevated stress levels with other parts of your life.

Remember, stress is stress, regardless if it's the stress brought on by workouts or from a residential move or a house purchase.

If you're not taking adequate stress alleviating rests, it builds up.

[Pman]

You stated that you started incorporating HIIT every other workout. What are you dong for that and how long? You may be adding a lot of stress to your joints by what you are doing here.

[Anniehow]

For the HIIT I was running, but I was getting shin splints, so I switched to the elliptical machine.
It wouldn't surprise me if the HIIT was what was doing it, but I'm not sure what to do otherwise. I have seen really good results incorporating it.

[Pman]

Try backing off the HIIT for a couple of weeks and see if your joints improve.

Just a thought.

[former fat guy]

I would say you need a good long break from working out - 2 weeks would be my suggestion

[Hunter]

I took about a month off after about 15 months straight (with the occasional week off every 6-8 weeks or so), and it helped a lot! I worked about 4 times total that month, and I felt great when I got back after it.

[Phaedrus49er]

I'm in the second week of a two-week break, and I'll need every bit of it after three straight HARD months (for me, anyway). Sometimes, you just have to walk away for a bit. The weights will still be there when you get back. They're good about being patient

[SpacecityPaula]

I'd also look at lowering the fat and upping the protein in your diet. Your muscles need to protein to repair themselves.