Overexercising

We all know that moving our bodies is good for us. Exercise benefits heart health, bone health, weight control, mood and emotional health, and much more.

And while not getting enough exercise is the bigger issue for most people, exercising too much can be a problem, too. Overexercising is counterproductive and can actually be dangerous to your health.

What are the ways you can exercise?

Current guidelines recommend adults get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity each week, in addition to strength training.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are primarily two main ways you can overdo it on exercise:

1.    Overtraining
Overtraining usually results from not giving yourself enough rest (or full rest days off 
from exercise completely) in between workouts, not getting adequate nutrition for the exercise you’re doing, not getting enough sleep, exercising too intensely, or not cutting back on workouts when you are sick or faced with too many other stressors.

2.    Compulsive exercising
Compulsive exercise, according to the NIH, is when exercise no longer feels like an 
activity you choose to do, but becomes an activity you feel you have to do (or it becomes addictive). People who are compulsive exercisers might notice that exercise is no longer enjoyable — or that they feel guilty or anxious if they don’t exercise.

Individuals who overexercise tend to experience similar signs and symptoms, which include:

• Extended muscle soreness
• Decreased immune response
• Increased injuries
• Constant fatigue, irritability, and low energy
• Getting tired early in your workout
• Increase in resting heart rate
• Depression or anxiety

While overexercising can be problematic, the good news is that you can reverse its effects by resting.
 

Sources: Everyday Health