How too much exercise can do more harm than good!

Fitness expert Mamtaa Joshi explains why too much exercising is actually bad for your health.

You may go to the gym for an hour daily but you may have seen some people sweating it out for hours, hogging the machine without letting anyone else use it. Pure dedication? Probably. But are they ruining their health by overdoing it? Yes! Fitness expert Mamtaa Joshi explains why too much exercising is actually bad for your health.

Is there a thing like 'too much exercise'?

Anything in excess can be bad for you even if the said thing is good for you. Thus, it is important to realise when to stop. Same is the case with exercising and gymming. Your body needs rest as much as it needs exercise. Recovery period is very important for muscle growth. Slowly, lack of stamina will seep in and affect your exercise regime as well.

(Read: Gymming incomplete without a personal trainer)

How much is too much?

It is important to realise your limitation and fitness capacity. Ideally, workouts should not exceed more than 5 to 6 hours per week. It should also include a variety of exercises a combination of cardio, weight training, stretching, etc. Many people are gym freaks and you can see them exercise for hours on end doing only weight training every day. This is wrong.

One should note that exercising is a stress-buster. Doing it for hours on end isn't advisable. These people then have to take supplements to support such hardcore workouts. However, do note that supplements should only be taken after consulting your doctor keeping your age, history and health in mind.

When should one stop exercising?

There is no reason to stop exercising. You just need to vary the intensity of the workout depending on your fitness levels.

If you are someone who does not have much stamina, start with floor exercises which are low-intensity and build your way up to more strenuous ones. But if you have cardiac respiratory problems, it is better to take your physician's advice before you start any regimen.

If you injure your shoulder or upper body, you can continue with exercises like walking or if you have hurt your lower body, you can stick to chair exercises which do not exert pressure on the lower half of your body. There is always a way to exercise without hurting your body. It is up to you to find the will to do so. (Read: Things to eat before hitting the gym)

What steps should one take to stay healthy?

Complete fitness is achieved when both the mind and body is relaxed and fit. In order to achieve this, do a combination of yoga, meditation, stretching exercises. You can do this thrice a week and do weight training and cardio on other days. Also, eat a healthy diet to support your workout. Follow this regimen and see your body and mind become healthy.

Mamtaa Joshi is a fitness expert and the founder of The Orange Tree Studio a fitness assessment and consultation salon. She has trained at the renowned Reebok Fitness Academy and conducted various fitness classes at Talwalkars, Expressions Dance Studio as well as the Taj Mahal Hotel, Colaba. She has over 10 years of experience in the field. She firmly believes that to improve your quality of life, you must be fit inside out. She tries to help her clients get over their mental blocks by bringing consistency and discipline in their routine.

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