Working out regularly is supposed to help you to increase your muscle mass, while also decreasing your body fat. But, what happens when your workouts begin to bring you diminished results, lost strength, and even an increase in body fat? Well, that could very well be your body’s way of telling you that it’s time to slow down, take a break, and let your body recover. Athletes or those involved with personal trainer programs use the following symptoms to measure if their bodies are telling them to slow down.
Decrease in performance
One of the earliest signs of workout overload is seei
ng a drop in your workout performance. It is easier to see if your performance levels are altered in endurance activities, including running, cycling, swimming, etc.
A change in your mood
When your body is physically overstressed, feelings of depression, confusion, anger, anxiety, are very common. You release stress hormones when you’re stressed emotionally, and those hormones are also released when your body is physically overloaded. This is one major sign that it is time to take a breather from your workouts.
You don’t want to workout
Being motivated is a major key when it comes to working out and getting the desired results. When you lack motivation or enjoyment for exercising, that is telltale sign of burnout. More often, this is common with weight lifters, sprinters, and also soccer players. These types of athletes are driven by speed and power.
Recovery takes longer
As a general rule, you have a good idea it takes your body to recover from your workouts. If it’s taking longer for your body to recover and you’re still feeling muscle soreness hours or days longer than usual, it is a sure sign that your body is fatigued. When this happens, you need to listen to what your body is trying to tell you and take the time to rest and let your body recover.
Fatigue
Do you feel groggy either physically or mentally, or even both? Fatigue and grogginess are sure signs that you are overtraining your body. Many people think the best way to snap out of this state of grogginess is to work out to boost their energy. While this may give them a short-term boost, long-term, it can be a detriment.
Here comes the fat
You may still be losing weight as a result of your workouts, but you’re seeing an increase in your body fat. This is a sign that you could be in the later stages of workout overload. Your body responds to prolonged stress by elevating your levels of stress hormones, which includes cortisol. This increase in cortisol will lead to increased storage of adipose tissue, and will inhibit your steroid-like hormones, which usually help you increase muscle. So, the weight that you’re losing is actual muscle mass, and you’re gaining body fat. Take the time off and will let your body recover.
Staying in tune with your body prevents injury and stress. If you feel pain or discomfort, take a hint and slow down. Your body (and mind) will thank you.
