Are You Exercising Too Much? The Facts About Overtraining

For people who struggle to exercise, the idea of getting too much may seem ludicrous. However, there are plenty of exercisers out there who exercise so much, they end up overtraining. It may be simple enthusiasm, or it may be more of an obsession, the idea that they can't take a break from exercise because they might get off track or gain weight.

The problem is, overtraining can backfire, leaving you vulnerable to the kinds of injuries and illnesses that could keep you off exercise for weeks or months.

Are You Doing Too Much?

You'll know you're overdoing it if your workouts suddenly feel harder than usual, or you're losing ground despite the fact that you're working harder than ever. If you're feeling the pain, it's time to do some analysis on your workout routine.

The typical signs of overtraining include:

• Insomnia
• Achiness or pain in the muscles and/or joints
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Elevated morning pulse
• Sudden inability to complete workouts
• Feeling unmotivated and lacking energy
• Increased susceptibility to colds, sore throats and other illnesses
• Loss in appetite
• Decrease in performance

If you experience any of these symptoms, it's a good idea to visit your doctor to make sure nothing more serious is going on. If it is simply overtraining, there is something very simple you can do about it.

Next Page: The Cure for Overtraining

Previous

• 1
• 2

Next