How much is too much when it comes to working out?


It’s common knowledge that physical exercise is good for our physical and mental health. It keeps us fit, active and feeling good all day long. There’s a limit however that dictates whether it will do you good or bring harm to your body. Too much of everything no matter how good it is is always not a good thing. Too much of physical exercise will rob you of all benefits and leave you with several negative effects that will affect the quality of your life. So, how do you know how much is too much when it comes to working out?

Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to know when you’re pushing your body way beyond its physical limits. Different people have different thresholds, for instance a professional athlete can take much more exercise in a day than a beginner. Despite this, symptoms indicating overtraining are the same with everybody. When you begin exhibiting them, that’s when you know you’re working out too much. Here are some of the common signs:

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Persistent muscle soreness that lasts for days

Normal work out routines may leave you feeling exhausted, but energetic and fresher after a shower. More intense work outs may leave you with a bit of muscle soreness which should go away in a while. If it lasts for days instead accompanied by joint pains, it’s a clear indication that you’re over-exercising yourself. This is also the case if it happens every time you work out.

Frequent injuries

Getting injuries during physical exercise is normal and may happen once in a while. When it happens frequently however, it’s as a result of an overworked body. When you push your body past its physical limits, factors such as your balance and concentration will be affected, alongside your strength.

Difficulty recovering

After a workout session, a shower should leave you feeling fresh, sometimes coupled with a bit of massage. The effects that you feel from your physical exertion should be refreshing. If you cannot get past the exhaustion even after a night’s sleep, then you are pushing yourself too much.

Increases irritability and low moods

Physical exercise is supposed to cause the release of feel good hormones in the body. It should lead to better mental health, giving you a clarity of mind and a feeling of happiness. If you find the opposite happening to you, then you’re exercising excessively.

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To avoid overtraining, here are three measures you can take

• Have Enough Rest: allowing your body to recover after each session will keep you in a good state to carry out more exercises. It’ll keep you energetic all through.

• Have Enough Sleep: while you sleep, your body repairs itself and gets ready for a new day. This repair enables your muscle fibers to get the repair they need and reduce risk of injuries and soreness.

• Take breaks: it’s a good idea to take a break from your workout routine once in a while. A week’s break every three months is enough.
When you realise your exercises aren’t leaving you feeling better than when you started off, reduce their intensity or length.

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