Sports Medicine
A Crucial Period
Good Pain, Bad Pain
On Your Knees
Secondary Injuries
Imaging Technology
What's Sciatica?
The Female Athlete
Putting Your Feet First
Itis Schmitis
Too Much, Too Soon
Under the Influence
Twisted
What's Goin' On?
Think Inches, Not Pounds
Preventing Vaginitis
That Painful Pull
Athlete's Heart
Exercise & Arthritis
Chilled to the Bone
Measuring Body Fat
Exercise and Your Breasts
Choosing a Sports Doctor
Lean on Me (Shoulder)
Exercise & Anemia
Exercise Abuse
Pelvis Sighting
Hand Aid
It's All in the Wrist
Back in Action
Altitude Adjustment
Tennis Elbow, Anyone?
Exercising in the Heat
Agony of the Feet
Restless Legs
Night Time Cramps
Birth Control Concerns
No Periods, No Babies?
Post Partum Prescription
Weight Loss Mystery
Undesirable Cooldown
To Brew Or Not To Brew
Fitness After Baby
Biking and Back Pain
Swimmer's Shoulder
A Hidden Athlete
Avoiding Osteoporosis
Drug Testing
Maximum Heart Rate
Headway Against Headaches
Torn Rotator Cuff
Fat Figures
SOS About PMS
Bloody Urine
Sag Story
Lackluster Leg
Bothersome Bulge
Gaining in Years
Taking It On the Shin
Aching Ankles
Hoop Help
Tender Toes
Meals For Muscle
Growing Pains
Hot Tips
High Altitude PMS
Personal Bests
Air Pollution
Ankle Blues
Heartbreak Heel
Yeast Relief



Exercise Abuse

Continued...

The signs of overtraining are primarily physical, while exercise addiction involves psychological symptoms as well.

Signs of excessive exercise

One of the first indications of exercise abuse is difficulty achieving your training goals. The workout you were doing a month ago might seem more difficult now. Maybe your speed-workout times are slower or you're having trouble lifting the same amount of weight.

Deterioration occurs when you don't give your body enough time to rest or enough fuel (food) to rebuild. Exercise is a process of tearing down and rebuilding. First you stress your system, demanding extra performance from your body Then you allow it to rest and recover, providing it with enough fuel to regain muscle strength. Without enough rest and fuel, you will begin a downward spiral of decreased performance.

Another classic sign of overtraining is fatigue - not the usual type you experience after a good workout, hut a sense of tiredness that invades your entire life. And even though you are exhausted, you may not sleep well.

This fatigue may be caused by depletion of glycogen (fuel) stores in the muscles. Researchers have found that some overtrained individuals don't have enough glycogen in their muscles. One theory maintains that women who overtrain may be undernourished for the training they're doing. Without enough fuel to get going, their bodies start to burn muscle mass. (Some fatigue can be caused by anemia. If fatigue lingers after you've had a few days of rest, see your doctor; she may prescribe supervised iron therapy for you.)

Other symptoms of overtraining include chronic muscle soreness, frequent injuries and pain in the joints or tendons. You should be able to distinguish between the occasional stiffness that accompanies an extra-hard workout and chronic muscle pain that hasn't gone away after a week or more.

Some other signs of exercise abuse include elevated morning blood pressure and resting heart rate, and an increased heart rate during less-than-all-out training. if you find that your morning pulse rate is 10 percent higher than usual, you may be overtraining.

Since the mind is connected with the body, excessive exercise can also alter your mental outlook.

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Table of Contents

Foreword: Billie Jean King

Comments by Barb Harris
Editor in Chief,
Shape Magazine



General Health
Nutrition
Exercise
Common Medical Problems
Dental Health
Emergency!
Infectious Disease
Sexual Health
Emotional Well-Being
Eating Disorders
Alcohol & Other Drugs
Environmental Health
Prevention


The information in this web site is for educational purposes only and is not providing medical or professional advice. It should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. If you have or suspect you might have any health problems, you should consult a physician.


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