4 Ways to Tell If You’re Exercising Too Much

(Newswire.net — February 13, 2018) Cheyenne, Wyoming — Everyone is guilty of not exercising enough at some point or another but believe it or not, exercising too much can also be bad for overall health. It’s sort of like being on a job with a backlog of work so a ton of overtime hours are racked up to handle it all but after a certain time, productivity becomes stagnant or halts all together, what is known as the rate of diminishing returns. The body, just like the brain over worked on a job, doesn’t function very well when pushed beyond its limits and it will send out some very clear messages saying it needs a break. 

“Overdoing your workouts can actually lead to diminished strength and increased body fat—your body’s way of begging for a break,” says Corey Stenstrup, performance development trainer at IMG Academies. “While your body can handle a particularly tough workout, it also needs time to recover from the stress overload.” 

Marked mood changes are one of the more obvious signs to look out for as more frequent or intense reactions of anger, depression, anxiety and irritability will occur. When physically overworked, the body releases hormones, turns out the same ones created under emotionally stressful situations hence the temperamental roller coaster ensues. 

Connected to one’s emotional state is sleep. The body is in no frame of mind to rest in peace at nights if it has been stretched and stressed excessively on a steady basis. With all that mental and physical tension pent up throughout, one’s sleep pattern is thrown for a loop as the body is trying to navigate its way back to a state of Zen. 

The biggest irony of exercising too much is that it can actually cause weight gain. Now ain’t that funny? The body becomes less proficient at burning fat when under extended periods of stress, furthermore, the hormones that promote muscle mass development decline as well. 

Also, if muscles are still tender and pounding for hours or even days after an intense workout session, then that’s a clear sign to ease up on exercising for a while and allow the body to fix itself.

“A day or two of rest followed by a light bout of exercise is recommended,” says U.S. News & World Report. “Also, make a point to get at least eight hours of sleep a night which your body will need to repair those tiny muscle tears that occur during workouts and enable your body to build new muscles. Good nutrition is also key: think lean protein (fish, skinless chicken breast, tofu), whole grains and plenty of fruits and vegetables.” 

Keeping close tabs on the body’s pH balance is vital, especially during phases of change or strenuous activities. How it’s treated on the inside and out is critical to internal equilibrium so it’s wise to have pH test strips handy at home, work or after play. The HealthyWiser™ pH Health Test Strips for Saliva & Urine are a well recommended tool to handle the important task of measuring pH homeostasis.