Mae West once said too much of a good thing can be taxing and that saying holds true for too much exercise. Frequent illnesses is one of a handful of symptoms of exercising consistently, or overtraining. Although your goal is to make your body healthy and strong, overtraining sends your health and fitness into unhealthy territory. Other symptoms of overtraining may include loss of appetite, chronic pain and depression.
Overtraining
Spending hours at the gym with little to no breaks in between for days at a time might seem like a smart way to lose weight and get in shape. The reality is, it's a great way to send your health into a tailspin. When you exercise consistently you are not providing your body enough time to recover from all that hard work. It is during that recovery time that your muscles repair themselves and grow stronger. Too much exercise means you are actually weakening your muscles and immune system, which may put you at risk for injuries as well as illnesses.
Symptoms of Overtraining
In addition to frequent illnesses and upper-respiratory problems that take forever to heal, other symptoms of overtraining include lower endurance levels, mood swings, excessive fatigue, chronic pain, insomnia, loss of appetite and elevated heart rate. For women, overtraining may interfere with their menstrual cycle, either causing irregular periods or stopping your period altogether. Overtraining may also put you at risk for severe musculoskeletal injuries.
Exercise Addiction
Someone that exercises too much may be suffering from low self-esteem and other personal problems. In addition to the physical symptoms of overtraining, exercise addiction comes with psychological and emotional symptoms including depression, emotional sensitivity and apathy. Those suffering from exercise addiction may prefer spending hours at the gym alone than out with friends or feeling as if they will never be skinny enough or strong enough. If you notice these signs and symptoms in yourself or a friend, seek medical attention.
Train Properly
For a strong and healthy body, create a balanced workout schedule. Don't spend too much time on one particular exercise or activity. Assess your fitness level and create a workout plan that best suits your physical abilities. If you are new to exercise, start at a slow and steady pace and gradually increase the time and intensity of your workouts as your fitness levels improve. Additionally, schedule a day or two of rest. You may go out for a light walk or perform light stretches on these days; however, refrain from strenuous exercise in order to prevent overtraining.
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