People who overtrain don't allow enough time for recovery between bouts of exercise and actually get weaker rather than stronger. The rest phase is when the body strengthens its cardiovascular and muscular systems. Constantly stressing the body beyond its ability to repair itself leads to "overtraining syndrome." The syndrome has physical and emotional consequences. Fatigue, decreased athletic performance, poor sleep patterns, irritability, getting sick more often and changes in body weight can be signs of overtraining. Recovery can take weeks or even months.
Decreased Weight and Appetite
Some people who overtrain suffer decreased appetite and unwanted weight loss. The body's ability to regulate glucose can be hampered. Some people experience hypoglycemia symptoms while exercising. Clinical studies also point to an increase in muscular breakdown products, according to Princeton University Health Services. Rhabdomyolysis, or rapid muscle breakdown caused by injuries to muscle tissue, can imbalance electrolytes in the body and cause mental confusion and nausea.
Bone Loss
Overtraining and its resulting weight loss can lead to osteoporosis, especially in women, which leaves bones vulnerable to fractures. Women who reach amenorrhea--the absence of menstrual periods--are especially at risk for decreased bone density because the condition often is sparked by low estrogen levels. Low estrogen can lead to osteoporosis, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Even if the "gym rat" or athlete does not suffer bone breaks immediately, these often may come later in life.
Reverse Anorexia
Male athletes who suffer "reverse anorexia" are prone to overtrain in attempts to gain or lose weight. Some see a small, frail person in the mirror despite being large and muscular. Males who compete in sports that use weight classifications, including weightlifting and wrestling, are most prone to this psychiatric condition, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.
Insufficient Nutrition
Athletes who overtrain often do not take in enough calories. However, some do not lose weight because their bodies go into "starvation mode," according to a study by Dina Christina Janse van Rensburg, M.D., presented to the American College of Sports Medicine in 2007. Her study compared athletes who overtrained with those who did not. It found no difference in nutritional intake between the two groups, despite the higher level of exercise by the overtraining group. The nutritional intake among overtrainers did not meet their bodies' energy demands and likely contributed to their overtraining symptoms.
Weight Loss Attempts Backfire
Weight loss is a common overtraining symptom, but some people who work out too much in attempt to shed pounds experience the opposite effect, according to Ann Louise Gitteman's "Fat Flush Fitness Plan," 2004. Elevated cortisol levels are common in people who overtrain. If the overtraining goes on long enough, the body can convert progesterone into cortisol. When cortisol levels are too high for too long, the body breaks down bone, muscle and nerve cells to convert them to energy. Prolonged levels of high cortisol also cause the body to ramp up fat storage. If cortisol is consistently elevated for long enough, the adrenal glands responsible for producing the hormone wear out and cortisol levels fall too low. Symptoms of falling cortisol include weight gain, depression, extreme cravings for sweets and a foggy mental state.
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