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It’s tough to give exercise your all – and get excited
about it, nogal – when you’re plagued by niggles
and injury. Here’s how to recognise that you’re over-trained…
1. You feel flu-ish
“Overtraining leads to burnout which is horrible! You have flu-like symptoms due to adrenal fatigue,” says Aneeka Buys, Virgin Active master trainer and the brains behind the Women’s Health Shedding For The Wedding exercise plan. At the burnout stage, don’t focus on the numbers, focus on how you feel and do as much as you can, she advises. Push to a point where you feel comfortable, but still challenged.
Read more: We tested affordable running shoes for under R400… and they work!
2. You’re exhausted – but you can’t sleep
Other symptoms of burnout are decreased immunity and lightheadedness, says Buys.
Note: Turmeric helps to regulate the immune system – and that’s just one of its many superpowers. Add it to meals for a natural body boost.
3. You’re miserable to be around
Over-trained athletes can become moody and easily irritated and sometimes even depressed, says running coach Sean Tait of Off The Mark Training.
Read more: The 3 cardio moves that’ll get you leaner legs faster
4. You don’t rest, aka over-training…
“Sleep is an important ingredient in ensuring that your body is able to perform optimally,” says S.W.E.A.T. 1 000 co-founder and trainer Paul Rothschild. “Your body needs rest for your muscles to repair and recover.”
5. You’re struggling to fit everything in
“If you analyse the types of athletes suffering from over-training, it’s often multi-sport athletes,” says Tait. “They’re trying to train for two or three sports at the same time and this puts their body more at risk of incurring over-training syndrome.” Pick a chilled hobby instead.
This article was originally published on www.womenshealthsa.co.za
Image credit: iStock
