Don’t Ignore Nagging Pain

If you’re committed to a regular, punishing gym schedule, be careful you don’t overdo it. Overtraining (how much you train compared to how much you rest) can easily happen and can have long-lasting consequences.

Your body needs time to recover and repair. Not giving it adequate time to do so means that you can quickly become exhausted, have long term muscle soreness and see a reduction in your gym performance and ability.

How to tell if you’ve overdone it

We all expect some soreness after a workout but if your usual aches and pains have been replaced by something more persistent, then stop and take a rest day or two. If you experience shooting pain in areas like the back, knee or hip, stop what you’re doing, take a second, walk around. Try something light and low impact and see if it’s still there. If it is, take a couple of rest days and see a health practitioner if it persists.

How overtraining can impact you

Not allowing yourself time to recover means your body won’t be able to tackle new injuries from taking hold or repair existing ones, leaving you feeling twice as bad.

Too much pressure on your body can also weaken your immune system and prevent your body being able to fight off infections. As well as aching muscles, you’re more likely to get sick and be felled by things you may ordinarily be able to shake off.

Overtraining will also cause your performance in the gym to suffer and lead to a plateau or a decrease in performance, rather than an improvement. You’ll probably find your ability, endurance and strength declines too, which means your training goals will take a hit.

Too much training and not enough rest can cause your stress levels to stay spiked for too long. Too much cortisol in your system means you might find it hard to switch. Off and wind down for bed properly. It can also damage your sleep pattern which is crucial time, not just for rest and repair for your body but your brain too. Long-term poor sleep has serious implications on things like cardiovascular health as well as fatigue levels and mood.