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... By Karli Taylor
Though the majority of the population should be trying to fit more exercise into their busy lives, there are plenty of people who are working out a little too much. Too much? Is that possible?
Too much exercise may lead to overtraining, which in turn can make you susceptible to both illness and injuries. How do you know if you're doing too much? If your workouts suddenly feel harder than usual, or you're gaining fat despite the fact that you're working hard, you may be experiencing overtraining. If this sounds a little too familiar, it's time to take a look at your workout routine.
Do you workout 6 or 7 days a week for an hour or more? If you do you may begin to notice beginning signs of overtraining. If you are experiencing regular insomnia, elevated resting heart rate, muscle fatigue, achiness, loss of motivation and energy or loss of appetite, chances are that you are overtraining.
In your quest to improve your fitness, you are actually on your way to decreased fitness and even poorer overall health. The next step, if you don’t listen to these signs that your body is giving you, is increased susceptibility to colds and other sicknesses and overuse injuries of muscles, bones and joints.
If you experience any of these symptoms, chances are that you're not resting enough or you're doing the same exercise too much. Your body needs time to recover or you will never improve your strength, tone or overall fitness. If you are suffering from over training, what can you do?
The most important thing you can do for yourself when you experience overtraining symptoms is to rest. It's better to take a week or so off from exercise and come back fresh than to permanently injure yourself. One week will not cause a decrease in your fitness levels, and it will significantly improve your performance when you return.
If you are not feeling these symptoms right now, be preventative. Build rest into your fitness routine and mix up your workouts. Doing the same workout day after day can also lead to overtraining, boredom and possible injury.
