Cardio is an essential part of any fitness routine, but it’s possible to overdo it. Here are five signs that you might be pushing yourself too hard with cardiovascular exercise:

1. You’re Picking Up Injuries

Frequent injuries, especially to your joints or muscles, could be a sign of overtraining. Excessive cardio places repetitive stress on your body, which may lead to strains, sprains, or even chronic issues if you’re not giving yourself enough recovery time.

Giving yourself a day off at least once or twice per week will help to reduce the injury risk. Avoiding injury is far more sensible than healing injuries.

2. You’re Not Sleeping Much

Overtraining can disturb your sleep patterns. Excessive cardio can raise cortisol levels, a stress hormone that can make it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep. If your cardio routine is interfering with your rest, it’s time to reassess your balance.

Your sleeping habits are one of the most important aspects of your recovery routine, so make a point of prioritising your sleep.

3. You’ve Lost Motivation to Train

Feeling unmotivated or dreading your workouts could be a result of doing too much cardio. This lack of enthusiasm can happen when your body and mind are fatigued from pushing too hard for too long, leading to burnout.

When you’re doing too much of anything, you’ll likely lose enthusiasm for it. Keep an eye out for how you’re feeling about your workouts. If you’re struggling to get yourself up for it, take some rest.

4. You’re Low on Energy

Ironically, too much cardio can leave you feeling drained rather than energised. If you’re constantly fatigued, it may be because your body is overworked, and it’s struggling to recover. This can impact your day-to-day life and make regular activities feel more tiring.

This doesn’t really apply to exercise - I’m referring to day to day life. If you’re really tired, low on energy and struggling to get through the day, take a few days off training.

5. You’re Struggling to Raise Your Heart Rate Despite Working Hard

If you’re working hard but finding it difficult to get your heart rate up, this could be a sign of overtraining. Your cardiovascular system can become fatigued, leading to diminished performance, and your heart may struggle to respond as it should during exercise.

It’s a good idea to use a heart rate monitor to keep a track of your workout output, so you can look for subtle clues that you’re on the brink of doing too much.

While cardio is a great way to boost fitness and support weight loss, it’s important to find balance. If you notice any of these signs, it may be time to cut back, focus on recovery, and consider incorporating strength training or rest days into your routine to avoid burnout and injury.

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