If a little bit of exercise is good, more must be better. Right? Not necessarily. Although most people have problems getting motivated to go to the gym, there are a few who go to the opposite extreme and workout too much, to the point of jeopardizing health and happiness. In some people, training too much can become an addiction that overshadows other aspects of their life, robbing them of free time as they devote more and more hours to the gym. Like anorexia or bulimia, overexercising can become an addiction.
The Causes of Training Too Much What causes someone to workout too much, often to the point where other areas of life are neglected? Sometimes exercise is used as a way to avoid dealing with other more pressing issues or as a way to offset the blues. Vigorous exercise is known to increase release of "feel good" hormones known as endorphins which can give a temporary lift to the mood. Unfortunately, an excessive devotion to getting fit can prevent the real underlying problem from being addressed.For some women, particularly those under the age of thirty, working out too much is a way to fit in with the crowd and boost a poor body image. There's always the idea in the back of the minds of these women that if they work out a little harder they'll achieve a perfect body, which, as most people realize, isn't realistic. The media plays an important role in fostering this idea with their constant emphasis on thinness and their intolerance of physical imperfection.The Health Effects of Training Too Much Although exercise can bring positive health benefits and a greater sense of well being, training too much can have the opposite effect. When you workout too much, the result can be difficulty sleeping, chronic fatigue, symptoms of depression, joint aches and pains, and even nausea.Other more serious consequences of training too much include a loss of interest in sex, hormone fluctuations, irregular menstrual periods, and even bone loss. The immune system can also take a hit when exercise is taken to an extreme. Although moderate exercise appears to boost immunity, excessive exercising weakens the immune system, increasing the susceptibility to colds and flu. Another way training too much can wreck havoc on health is through injury. Obsessive exercise increases the risk of sports related injury, muscle strains, and joint discomfort.The bottom line? When it comes to training too much, more isn't always better. As with most things in life, moderation and consistency is the key to a healthy mind and body.
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