Overtraining 101: The Signs and Risks of Exercising Too Hard
Sometimes, it’s hard to stop and take control when you commit yourself to your fitness goals. As you see the results of your hard work, it can be tempting to keep pushing and pushing until you reach your goals. However, going too hard might lead to a phenomenon called overtraining.
What is overtraining, and what can you do to avoid these problems? In this article, you will find the answers to these questions and more.
What Does Overtraining Mean?
Overtraining is a condition in which a person doesn’t allow their body a chance to recover from strenuous exercise. Overtraining can happen to anyone and can result in a variety of problems.
Overtraining is most common when a person increases the amount of exercise they do without increasing how much rest they allow between training sessions. As a result, their body is not given a chance to heal and grow more susceptible to sickness and injury.
What Is the Difference between Working Hard and Overtraining?
Overtraining is a condition resulting from consistently working out too hard. Working hard, in contrast, is a term used to describe a person who is committed and dedicated to achieving their fitness goals.
How do you know whether you’re working hard or overtraining? To start, you should think about your overall lifestyle and not just your workout routine. Think about whether you’ve been experiencing high levels of stress recently. Have you changed your diet, or have you been sick lately? Those things are signs you should reduce the impact of the exercises you’ve been doing until things get better for you.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Overtraining?
If you want to keep your body safe and secure, you should keep an eye out for signs of overthinking. Here are some crucial signs you should think about:
- Increased resting heart rate
- Decreased motivation
- Lack of strength and endurance and ability to recover
- Interrupted sleeping patterns
- Increased incidence of illness and injury
- Chronic fatigue
- Increased muscle soreness, especially after a workout
- Muscles feel heavy, even at low-intensity levels
- Feelings of anxiety, anger, and depression
How Do You Deal With Overtraining?
If you think you have overtrained, you should start to address these issues before it becomes a problem. Here are some things you should consider:
- Change Your Routine – While it can be tempting to push yourself to recover, you should try to lighten up and rest. Do you need a break from running? Do you need a break from your lifting routine? It might sound counterproductive, but it’s probably a smart idea to take a few days off.
- Focus on Recovery – You might feel like you need to push yourself to make progress. However, recovery is just as important as working out, especially if you feel really sore and tired. You should try to get more sleep, eat well, and spend more time in the sun.
- Lighten Up the Load – It’s a good idea to increase the amount of rest you allow yourself between workouts. It would be best if you tried to work out three to four times per week with a day of rest in between. Also, if you usually do strenuous workouts, try to switch to lighter exercises that are easier on your body.
- Decrease Training Intensity – If you feel like you are having a lot of trouble recovering between workouts, it’s a good idea to change your workouts. For example, you could try to do shorter workouts with more walks, or you could switch to lighter training altogether.
Have It in Control with a Personal Trainer
To avoid overtraining, you need to know your body, and that’s where training with a Vancouver fitness coach comes in.
If you are on the hunt for a private personal trainer in Vancouver, work with us at Kalev Fitness Solution. With our personal training services, you can change your life from the inside out. You will be able to reach your goals without hurting yourself or doing damage in the long run. Call us today to get started.
