Exercise is absolutely wonderful, but it’s also possible to overdo it by working out too hard, too fast, too long, and doing too much too soon. 

Overtraining can lead to injury and burnout.

Signs you might be overtraining:

• Feeling tired all the time
• Loss of endurance
• Loss of strength
• Injury
• Increase in resting heart rate
• Getting sick more often
• Feeling irritable/moody

How to avoid over doing it

Adequate rest between workouts is important for your body to recover and rebuild so you can be ready for the next exercise session. For most of us, this means including a day off here and there.

Cross-training - Alternating between different exercises on different days, i.e. run one day and swim the next, allows your body to use different muscles in different ways and decreases the possibility for injury. Plus, cross-training can increase for fitness level and prevent boredom.

Take it slow. You don’t have to run 5 miles at full blast the very first day. In fact, the possibility for injury is very great! Sometimes we can get impatient (I am guilty), and we want to be fit and lean today! Be a little kinder to your body, and give it time to get fitter and healthier. Start at a slower pace, a lower weight, and a shorter duration. Gradually increase over time.

Eat the right foods and the right amount for you - not only to fuel your workouts but to repair your body afterwards.

You need exercise but not to the point of causing you to go backwards instead of forwards in fitness. Take care, have fun, and exercise wisely.

Originally posted 2007-11-13 08:00:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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