Q. I used to feel energized after working out. If I exercise for three consecutive days, I feel even more tired the rest of the time. What could have changed?
A. We hear very little about the negative effects of excessive physical activity.
Overtraining occurs when you train for too long and so hard that your body does not recover after regular rest periods. Overtraining is a problem faced by both competitive and recreational athletes, but it can also affect the general public.
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A balance between extreme effort and rest is required for serious athletes to achieve optimal performance. They must, therefore, exert a great deal of energy some days and balance it with rest days that are not excessive or time spent working out at a lower intensity.
What about the man who wants to improve his fitness?
I’m not an athlete, and I don’t participate in any events. I do exercise daily, mainly because it makes me feel good. If I miss working out for more than a day, I feel really bad. If I don’t take it easy or skip days, I can feel tired after working out or even later on in the day. If that happens, then I adjust my exercise routine by changing the time and frequency of workouts.
Overexercising can cause fatigue but also injuries, aches, pains, anxiety, and irritability. A lot of exercise can also reduce sexual desire.
It would be best if you also considered other factors that could be causing your fatigue after exercise, such as depression, anxiety, poor sleep, an unhealthy diet, or an unhealthy lifestyle. Beta-blockers and other blood pressure and heart drugs can also make you feel tired and sluggish after exercising.
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I would suggest you take some time off. If you want to improve your health, spread out your exercise days. If you still feel unwell, schedule an appointment with your physician.
Your doctor may suggest that you have blood tests done to check for other causes of fatigue. These include anemia, an underactive or diseased thyroid gland, liver or kidney problems, or a balance of electrolytes in your blood.
To achieve a higher fitness level, you must push yourself physically. Too much effort can cause muscle breakdown, use up a lot of energy, and make you weak. Rest and recovery are what allow you to become stronger. It’s best to keep intense aerobic exercises to three days or less. For resistance training, the rest intervals should not exceed every other day.
