Yes you must put in the time and intensity to get faster, stronger and fitter but there is such thing as training too much, also known as overtraining.
When you overtrain you feel sluggish, your times slow down, your weights drop and you can plateau or regress no matter how consistent your workouts are. When this happens most women’s logical response would be to train harder. This couldn’t be more wrong. Overtraining can lead to frustration and can be very de-motivating so it is important to spot the signs.
Pay attention to the following signs of overtraining;
- Chronic fatigue
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Lack of ability to concentrate
- Lack of motivation
- Elevated heart rate
- Trouble sleeping
- Increasing tendency to abandon the struggle
- Frequent illness (typically colds and flu)
- Anxiety
If you suspect that you have been overtraining take a week off training to allow for a full recovery. Get extra sleep, eat well and do some cross training if you feel you need to exercise. Maybe try some yoga, pilates or swimming. Keep up stretching and foam rolling at home.
The pay off will be worth while; a stronger, healthier more resilient you.
