Is It Possible to Exercise Too Much?
“I’m really surprised you said that.”
I hear that a lot, when I am gently suggesting she is running on fumes, overdrawing the energy bank account.
She thought I was going to say get out there, work harder, and push through it.
Nope, more often I am pointing out the need for more rest, relaxation, and restoration. Let your body catch up.
Some women are relieved to hear that maybe they should rest or do a restorative activity rather than a high-intensity workout. Others are afraid I’m trying to take away the one thing they enjoy, their outlet.
Exercise, what I prefer to call movement, is critical to your health and well-being. But it can take many different forms. Many women these days are burning the candle at both ends, working, running a home, maintaining relationships, and trying to keep up an exercise routine.
I understand that going out for that run, or kickboxing at the gym is an outlet. A time to be away from responsibilities. A time to do something for yourself. That is really important.
Sometimes though, a nap might be more helpful for your body. Or maybe a slow stroll in nature, watching the squirrels, birds, and plants. Still time away, time to clear your mind and focus on yourself, or on nothing. Time to just be.
I am seeing a high percentage of women needing their “well” to be refilled rather than more drawn from it.
BUT, that run or elliptical, or high-intensity gym class is rejuvenating! Right? That flood of endorphins when ‘you did it’ is powerful. And it is addictive. Your body learns to crave that endorphin reward.
That’s not a bad thing. High-intensity exercise is great… when you have the reserves to spend and your cortisol is in balance. However, intense exercise when cortisol is chronically low will keep putting you further in the hole.
How to get that energy or endorphin boost that doesn’t require such output?
- Try playing music
- Watching a funny or sad movie
- Playing with your kids or friends
- Meeting a friend for tea or a stroll
- Dancing like no one is watching
- Reading a good book
- Or maybe best of all, simply taking a nap.
Even 15-30 minutes of rest can be rejuvenating and done often, can help to fill that well over time.
Some tell me they aren’t tired. They don’t feel the need to slow down. In some cases that is because you are running on adrenaline, maintaining high gear so you don’t feel the fatigue. Unfortunately, for some of these women, illness, injury or hypothyroid will ultimately pull the rug out from under them in order to force them to slow down.
For years I couldn’t figure out why when I went on vacation, I didn’t have the energy to do anything. It was frustrating. I wanted to go romp in the waves, boogie board, laugh, play and have fun! But I felt heavy and fatigued and just wanted to nap. I finally realized that I had “Adrenal Fatigue” or very low cortisol, the main adrenal hormone and that only when I stepped away from everyday life did I feel the fatigue.
What does your body have to say? “I really wish I could just climb back in bed for an hour”, or “I need a mental health day”.
Are you convincing yourself to exercise, either because you want the endorphin boost, or because you feel you should? Maybe this is when you want to check in with your body. If you take a breath and relax your body, then ask yourself, if you could truly do anything you wanted at this moment, what would it be?
Want help deciphering what your body’s signals are trying to tell you? Get in touch.