Todd:
There is an old quote written by a German philosopher named Friedrich Nietzsche  that says, “What does not kill me makes me stronger”. In more simple terms, the harder you work the better you will become. However there comes a time when working smarter is more beneficial than working harder. Getting in shape obviously requires lots of dedication and hard work but it also needs common sense and planning.

In my opinion you are working so hard that you have begun to take a few steps backwards instead of making progress. You also have the classic symptoms of overtraining. Overtraining is when your body is worked so hard that it doesn’t have time to properly heal. Symptoms can include loss of strength, fatigue, muscle soreness, lack of sleep and moodiness.

Over training can be avoided by simply taking a few days off from your workout routine. The trick is to give yourself a break before your body starts giving you signals that it is in need of some extra rest. This helps you to stay fresh and ready for new challenges. It will also help you avoid plateaus - periods of little or no progress.

In my experiences most people participate in what I like to call ego lifting. They usually know when their bodies are telling them to slow down but can’t bring themselves to take a short break for fear of getting out of shape. News flash: You won’t get out of shape in 2 weeks.

In your case your body is already giving you signals to slow down. If your muscles are still sore they haven’t recuperated from the last workout. Working them before they are ready will certainly cause more damage than good. In my opinion you need to change your workout routine soon or you may be putting yourself at risk of injury.

I would suggest that you take 1-2 weeks off from weightlifting. You may continue to do small amounts of cardiovascular training if you feel the need to do some type of exercise. Try to get plenty of sleep and be sure to eat a proper diet. Use your time off to pursue other interests and hobbies. Keep your mind and body far from the gym and allow yourself to become mentally and physically refreshed. When you return to the gym slowly work your way back into your routine. Keep the weights light and the volume low. Start with about 65% of the weight you would normally lift for each exercise. Increase the weight 5% each week until you are back up to your normal speed.

There comes a time when physical and mental stress can be so great that your body will shut down on you. Failure to identify the warning signs of overtraining may put you at a much greater risk of injury. Listen to your body first and then make a plan that’s best for you. You results will be much more pleasing.