Exercise is a good thing, right? Well, like all things, exercise is good in moderation. Too little exercise leaves us overweight and unhealthy, but too much exercise can stress out our systems and cause a whole different variety of health problems.
Exercise is a good thing, right? Well, like all things, exercise is good in moderation. Too little exercise leaves us overweight and unhealthy, but too much exercise can stress out our systems and cause a whole different variety of health problems.
While, as the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research explains, some elite athletes are able to withstand high volumes of intense workouts, it is because of their ability to control the non-training factors in their lives. When surrounded by regular life, getting proper recovery is more difficult.
- Persistent fatigue – are you more tired than you should be?
- Elevated resting heart rate – this may be especially evident first thing in the morning.
- Frequent illness – does it seem like you catch every cold and virus going around?
- Decreased strength and performance – are you getting weaker and slower despite your workouts?
- Insomnia – are you tired all day, but have difficulty sleeping at night?
- Chronic muscle soreness – are you muscles always sore and tender?
- High cortisol levels – you may notice it’s hard to get rid of the weight around your mid-section.
- Depression – loss of motivation and enthusiasm.
Most of all, just get back to the basics – schedule a massage, get regular sleep, have days where you don’t work out at all, and follow a good nutrition plan. Exercise is a great thing and endorphins make us feel wonderful, but too much can be more damaging than good.
