How Much Exercise Is Too Much Exercise?

How Much Exercise Is Too Much Exercise? Although many of you don’t workout enough, for those who exercise frequently or intensely, it is certainly possible to overdo it, which can compromise your results or even worse cause some real damage, physically, socially and mentally.

Also Read The First Article In The Series: How Much Exercise Do You Need?

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that adults engage in either ≥ 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic training, 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic training, or a combination of the two, with activity spread throughout the week, for optimal overall health and well-being. Maintaining a physically active lifestyle has been shown to offer a number of health benefits, including increased productivity, improved sleep, reduced stress, greater heart health, and enhanced immune system support. On the flip side, too much exercise can have serious detrimental effects on your health.

If working out is good for you, then working out more can only be better for you, right? Not quite. Too many trips to the gym or cardio sessions could actually undo all of those gains you’ve been working towards. Worse, they might be doing damage to your heart, arteries and causing your brain to become addicted to workouts.

Exercising is supposed to be good for you. It can help you stay at a healthy weight, improve your cardiovascular health, and even ward off depression. But like most things, it’s possible to over-do it. And getting too much exercise can have serious consequences for your body and brain. So, what exactly is “too much” exercising?

Well, it depends on factors like your age, health, and choice of workouts. But in general, adults should get around 5 hours a week of moderate activity or 2-and-a-half hours of more intense activity. Or some combination of the two. But research shows that going way above and beyond that doesn’t increase your health benefits.

If you find yourself exceeding 300 minutes of moderate activity a week, you could be pushing yourself to physical “burnout,” and may be jeopardizing your health in a number of ways.

Signs That You Are Exercising Too Much!

How Much Exercise Is Too Much Exercise? 7 Symptoms of Working Out Too Much.

How To Avoid Exercising Too Much!

Look out for signs of unhealthy behaviours, such as feeling guilty when you miss a workout.
Incorporate some gentle exercises throughout the course of the week to allow your body time to recuperate. This might be some walking or a bit of stretching, for example.
Make a schedule so that you know exactly how much you are doing.
Take a break every so often. This might include rest days or, if your workouts are particularly intense, you can afford to take a week or so off altogether.

Knowing when to take a break from workout/training can be just important as staying fit – in fact, it could actually help towards your goals by allowing your body time to recover.

Also Read: How To Prepare For Your Weight Loss Journey?