Are you pushing too hard? 5 signs of overtraining
What's the story
Exercise is good for the body and can make you feel great by helping you burn calories, generate more energy, and boost your mood. However, moderation is key. Overtraining or doing too much exercise without giving your body enough time to rest and recover after tough workout sessions can have adverse effects. Here are some signs that you may be overtraining.
Fatigue
You feel fatigued almost always
Feeling tired after exercising is normal, but if you are constantly exhausted and do not fully recover, that is called fatigue. You may feel drained during or after workouts. Fatigue can happen if you don't eat enough before exercising, forcing your body to use its energy reserves. Proper rest and nutrition are important to prevent fatigue and keep your energy levels up.
Appetite
Your appetite has reduced
When you exercise, you usually feel hungry afterward. But if you exercise too much, it can mess with your hormones and affect how hungry or full you feel. This can lead to having less appetite and unintentional weight loss. When you overtrain, your body gets overwhelmed and doesn't tell you when it's hungry. So you may eat less and lose weight without meaning to.
Soreness
Your body feels overwhelmingly sore
Many people think that feeling sore after a workout means they did a good job, but that's not always true. Soreness doesn't guarantee progress. It is okay to feel a little tired, but you shouldn't feel like you're stuck and can't move. The soreness should go away in a day or two. If it lasts over a week, it means you overdid it.
Obsession
You are prioritizing working out over everything else
If you regularly prioritize workouts over workplace responsibilities, spending time with your family, or social events, it could be a sign that you are overly focused on exercise. It's not always a bad thing, but if you become obsessed with planning your next workout and neglect other important aspects of your life, it might lead to an unhealthy addiction.
Performance
Your performance is declining
If you work out too much or overtrain, your performance can suffer instead of getting better. You may feel weaker, less agile, and have less endurance, which makes it harder to reach your goals. Overtraining can also slow down your reaction time and running speed. So, it is important to listen to your body, take breaks, and give yourself time to recover.