How Much Exercise is Too Much?

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Ask yourself the following questions ...

Do you feel guilty if a day goes by when you don't work out?
Are you depressed if you are unable to exercise?
Do you feel tired and lethargic, yet still have trouble sleeping?
Do you have injuries that don't seem to heal?
Are you reluctant to take time off to heal injuries?
Are you ignoring aspects of your work, social life or family life?
Do you increase or decrease your exercise, based on your weight or what you have eaten?
Do you feel compelled to work out even if you are tired?
Do you suffer from insomnia, undesired weight loss, fatigue, lethargy, irritability, loss of menstrual periods, multiple chronic injuries, or stress fractures?

If you answered "Yes" to several of the above questions, you are probably exercising too much.

The American College of Sports Medicine has issued the following guidelines for physical activity:

Aerobic
Frequency - 3-5 days per week
Intensity - 50-85 percent estimated maximum heart rate, or exercise perceived to be "somewhat hard" or "hard"
Duration - 20-60 minutes of continuous exercise

Resistance
Frequency - 2-3 days per week
Intensity/Duration - 1-3 sets of 8-12 repetitions; 10 -12 total exercises, one for each major muscle group (chest, back, shoulders, biceps, triceps, quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteals, calves and core - abs and low back)

Suggestions to break over-exercising:

Focus on health and fitness versus appearance
Trust your body cues. Listen when your body says "I'm tired," or "I ache."
Take rest days.
Avoid linking eating and exercise.
Don't let exercise determine your self-worth.
Vary the intensity of your workout.

It's Your Health!

How Much Exercise is Too Much?

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