7 Signs You May Be Overdoing It In The Gym

Having the drive and motivation to enter a gym environment is the most challenging part of trying to get fit.

Keeping your body active and working your body even for twenty or thirty minutes can be incredibly beneficial to your health. That’s why it’s important to keep up with regular exercise where possible.

However, there are some occasions where you may feel like you’re pushing yourself too hard and overdoing it within a gym or environment where you’re exercising, which can contribute to your general wellbeing.

With that being said, here are several signs that you might be overdoing it in the gym.

1. Lack of energy and persistent fatigue

Going to the gym may likely take it out of you from time to time, but one sign that you may be overdoing it in the gym is feeling constantly drained, exhausted, and not refreshed, even after getting some rest.

That lack of energy and persistent fatigue can often impact other areas of your life where you’re perhaps meant to be putting in effort. Whether that’s in the workplace, tackling major deadlines, or having to keep up with stuff around the home.

This lack of energy and persistent fatigue is something you want to tackle so that it’s not impacting other aspects of your lifestyle too much. If you find yourself feeling both after a workout, then you might want to try to tone it down where possible to keep yourself at a level of energy that is required for everyday life.

2. Decreased performance

By overdoing it in the gym, you could actually be compromising your performance at the gym in general. Every gym goer has a goal or objective in going to the gym, and it differs from one person to the next.

Some might want to lose a certain amount of weight, whilst others might want to bulk up to gain more. Others may simply want to incorporate some general fitness in their weekly routines so that they feel healthy in themselves.

If you’re struggling to lift as much, run as fast, or hit some personal bests on those machines you use regularly, then it might be due to doing too much in the gym before the session in question.

Despite consistent efforts in the gym, by overdoing it, you’re going to diminish your future performances, so it’s good to manage your expectations and to not do too much.

3. Increased injuries

Injuries can occur whether you’re overdoing it in a gym environment or not. There are a lot of moving variables, and whether you’ve warmed up before or not, accidents can occur when working out.

However, if you’re constantly overdoing it in the gym, then you may find your body has an increased risk of injuries or is sustaining more injuries than it has in the past.

Of course, pushing your body can be useful to push the boundaries of what the body can do in the gym. However, for the sake of your health and well-being, it’s good to know where your existing limits lie to avoid injuring yourself significantly.

Strains, sprains, joint pain, and wounds that are slow to heal can all contribute to your general health and your ability to get back to the gym. It’s therefore important to curb your efforts when risk of injury is present and to know your limits, even as they likely expand over time. It’s worth seeking professional help for any injuries that need addressing.

4. Mood swings and irritability

Another sign that you might be overdoing it in the gym is the frequency of mood swings and irritability that you might be feeling. If you’re experiencing unexplained anger, sadness, agitation, or a general lack of enthusiasm in life, then this could certainly be an indication that something isn’t quite right.

It’s important to, of course, be mindful of your mood and how this might be impacting your other efforts in life, as well as those who are closest to you. It often is the case that we take a lot of our emotions out on those who we’re closest too and that’s often unfair if your mood is constantly negative.

Therefore, if you feel yourself getting more agitated or your mood changes quite abruptly, then it might be a combination of emotions and feelings that are contributed by overexerting yourself in the gym.

5. Sleep disturbances

We all need our sleep, whether you thrive on five hours or need several hours of rest religiously every night to function the next day.

When you’re overdoing it in the gym, it can often lead to sleep disturbances at night. Difficulty falling asleep or poor sleep quality, even when you’re tired and want to sleep, can be hard to live with, especially if it’s relentless in its frequency.

Sleep disturbances can be hard on your mental health, as well as your physical health. When you’re proactively going to the gym too, it can be a hindrance when you’re trying to recover from your efforts in the gym.

A lack of sleep can diminish your body’s ability to repair and reenergize itself for the following day. Therefore, you should be making every effort to influence your sleep hygiene positively. Pulling back on your efforts in the gym might help you sleep a little easier at night, too.

6. Loss of motivation and enjoyment

If you’re feeling less motivated and enjoyment within the gym, then this might be a sign you need to reel it back when it comes to your efforts. It’s important that you’re still having fun and enjoying the gym for what it is, instead of it hindering your love for it.

7. Weakened immune system

Getting sick more often can diminish your gym efforts and your activities in day-to-day life.

While exercise is great for a strong immune system defense, it can also have the opposite effect if you’re not careful. If you’re catching colds or getting sick more often than you usually would, then this would be a sign that you’re doing too much.

It can be frustrating to feel unwell and to have bouts of sickness due to not looking after your body properly.

Reducing the intensity and volume of effort you’re making in the gym can be helpful. As well as that, prioritize rest days and focus on nutrition so that your body is getting everything it needs to perform at an optimum level.

 

Want to unlock greater wellness?

Listen to our friends over at the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast to unlock your best self with Dr. John Lieurance; Founder of MitoZen; creators of the ZEN Spray and Lumetol Blue™ Bars with Methylene Blue.