It is universally recognized by medical practitioners and the public that regular exercise is beneficial to health. Psychologically and physiologically, there is no doubt that indulging in activities that flex the muscles and raise the heart rate brings enormous benefits and represents an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

Date:   1/18/2010 5:21:19 AM ( 14 y ago)

It is universally recognized by medical practitioners and the public that regular exercise is beneficial to health. Psychologically and physiologically, there is no doubt that indulging in activities that flex the muscles and raise the heart rate brings enormous benefits and represents an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

But sometimes people rigorously train because they're enthusiastic about a certain sport and end up practicing overzealously. Some are so anxious to reach fitness goals that they train too frequently and/or vigorously. All this eventually results in injuries such as pulled muscles, and stress fractures etc.

What is Over Exercising?

Over-exercising, also called compulsive exercising or obligatory exercising, is when an individual engages in strenuous physical activity  to the point that it is unsafe and unhealthy. A regular exercise program provides many benefits, and it is normal to be mildly sore and a little tired following your workouts. You might even push yourself beyond your limits at times, and that's okay too. But, if you overdo it without allowing your body to recover, it can break down.

How much is Too Much?

To maintain a normal healthy state of the body, 2,000-3,500 calories should be burned each week through aerobic exercises, such as running, cycling and the like. Thirty to forty-five minutes a day, five or six days a week is sufficient to acquire health benefits. Exercise beyond 3,500 calories per week, however, leads to decreased physical benefits and increased risk of injury.

What are its Symptoms?

Basically, when you train beyond your body's ability to adapt to exercise in a positive way, you may start to experience any/many of the over exercising symptoms.

• Feeling tired and lacking energy
• Persistent muscle soreness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Increased resting heart rate
• Headaches
• Irritability
• Loss of motivation
• Depression
• Decreased appetite
• Sudden weight loss
• Increased incidence of injury
• Increased susceptibility to infections

What are its dangers?

The physical risks are numerous. A very real risk with this disorder is dehydration if the sufferer is not drinking enough fluids. Over-exercise can also lead to insomnia, depression and fatigue. Additional physical side effects include muscular and skeletal injuries, like shin splits, bone fractures, arthritis, or damage to cartilage and ligaments. Too much exercise can lead to the release of excessive free radicals, which have been linked to cellular mutations and cancer.

Read the entire article at Are You Over Exercising?

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