What Happens When You Work Out Too Much

Some of us (me) hate working out so much that we try to cram two into one day just so we have fewer days with workouts throughout the week. Others (not me) love it so much that we do this on purpose, every day. If one workout is good then two or three must be great. Well, these approaches could actually be harmful. Here is what really happens when we work out too much.

Extreme Muscle Fatigue

The American Council on Exercise explains that the body can develop chronic muscle fatigue from overworking muscles. Watch out for heavy-feeling limbs, increased heart rate and loss of agility and speed. Be sure to stretch and fuel up on healthy carbs to protect muscles during a workout. 

Weakened Immune System

When we over-exert the amount of energy needed during a workout, the immune system can go into protective mode because of the minimal resources. It may stop working at max capacity, making us more susceptible to illness and disease. 

When over-training occurs, the body hones in on repairing the damage caused by overworked muscles, further taxing the immune and energy systems. The resolution? Slow down a bit and give the body plenty of fluids, nutrition and rest to help boost recovery between workouts.

Sleep Deprivation

Training hard and overworking the body usually leads to pain and discomfort in the core muscle groups. The resulting muscle fatigue can trigger not only pain but also an inability to flex certain areas. This, and the pain from this, might also make sleep challenging. Tossing, turning and not getting into a comfortable sleep position could lead to uneven sleep patterns and insomnia making healing more difficult as well.

Energy Depletion

If we feel drained after intense workouts day after day, it probably means the body’s energy stores are working in overdrive and we're not yet equipped to train at that level. This can be compounded if we're cutting back on calories, too. The body keeps an emergency store of energy for times when survival mode kicks in but this may not be enough if we're training too hard.

Because of the high-calorie burn, the body may even burn nutrients well beyond what we're providing through our intake and this can lead to exhaustion and nutrient deficiency. 

Pushing too hard can even result in a trip to the ER. Avoid an urgent medical situation by getting plenty of healthy nourishment and fluids and by knowing when enough is enough. Don't push yourself beyond what your body is ready for.

Health pros recommend a good, healthy workout daily, but it isn't meant to be extreme. The body needs proper rest to rejuvenate and recover and everyone has a different limit to their capabilities. Doing too much can cause pain and discomfort, or worse, lead to complete energy depletion. We can have strong, healthy, realistic bodies by eating, exercising, and resting the right ways based on our own limits for the best long-term results. 

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