Are you working out too hard? Do you know how to recognize the signs if you are? It’s a far more common occurrence than you might think. Unfortunately, it also means that it can hold back your results and harm your motivation.
Most people work out extremely hard to see results. However, they do not see the results that they hope to. This is because they do not give their bodies sufficient rest. Here are five signs that you are working out too hard:
Joint Aches
Muscle soreness is a sign that your muscles are recovering from the workout. However, the worst thing is to have soreness in the joints. This is an indication of two things. The first thing is that you are working out at an extreme level. If your joints hurt, then you have overworked your muscles, and stress was put on your joints. This can be dangerous, as your joints can get inflamed. Another reason you may experience this problem is if your form is not proper. In that case, you may not be working out too hard, but you’re not doing it correctly, which is equally harmful.
Extreme Muscle Soreness
Once you work out, muscle soreness should not last a long while. Typically, muscle soreness should last a day after you have worked out a particular muscle. However, if your muscles are sore for days afterward, then it is a sign that you are working out too hard. Extreme muscle soreness combined with a blue area is also an indication of a torn muscle. If you are experiencing muscle soreness during the exercise, you should stop as it can result in a torn muscle. This is a definite sign of working out too hard or improperly.
Cheating to Complete Reps
Another sign that you are working out too hard and overstressing your muscles is cheating to complete sets. Cheating is a technique involving jerks and swings that give you an unfair advantage when lifting weights. If you were initially able to lift the weight perfectly with a proper form, yet you had to cheat to complete the last reps, then your muscles are overworked. This should be avoided at all costs. If you work your muscles too hard, you will have a difficult time recovering.
Fatigue
If you exercise and experience fatigue, then you are exercising more intensely than you can handle. This is a sign that you do not have enough energy to exercise the way you want. You should cut down on the intensity of your workout or maintain a steady diet.
No Rest Days
One of the worst mistakes people make is failing to give their bodies proper rest. When you exercise, you need proper rest to enable your muscles to relax and recover. If you are exercising every day without fail, then you are working out too hard and should consider resting. Do keep in mind that you will only gain muscle or lose fat if you give your body sufficient time to rest.
Drawbacks of Working Out Too Hard
If you’re working out too hard – particularly if you’re doing it regularly – you’re working against yourself. Your unrested or injured muscles won’t perform as well and won’t have the opportunity to heal and strengthen properly. As a result, your results will slow down. With slower results, you may be driven to work out even harder, but you need to resist that inclination at all costs.
If you’re not sure if you’re working out too hard, or if you aren’t sure how to correct your current habits that are overdoing it, it’s important to consult with a professional. A personal trainer who works independently or employed by a local gym can give you a number of tips or can even design complete routines for you to follow. This will help you to make sure you’re always using strategies that are appropriate to your fitness level. An expert will also balance your efforts to ensure that each major muscle group is adequately rested before you use it again.
Be sure to give your body sufficient rest, and exercise only as much as your body can handle, and you’ll always maximize your outcomes and reach your full potential.