How working out too much can actually prevent you from losing weight.
Exercise is a great way to practice overall health and wellness. And you should always be aware of just how your workouts affect your body. Many Betr members are surprised to learn that overexerting yourself through exercise can be harmful and makes your body hold on to the unwanted weight!
Extreme exercise puts a lot of physical and emotional stress on your body, which responds to stress by releasing certain hormones, like cortisol.
Cortisol regulates insulin, blood pressure, blood sugar and plays a significant role in the function of your immune system. We need cortisol to stay healthy, but too much for too long causes inflammation and disease.
If your cortisol levels are high for an extended period, which can be triggered by over-exercising. In that case, your body responds to this by storing fat instead of building muscle!
You could also experience a condition called adrenal fatigue. Physical and emotional exhaustion prevent your adrenal glands from producing the cortisol your body needs to function correctly. Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include:
- Getting sick as a result of a weakened immune system
- Fatigue
- Mental fog
- Feeling sluggish
If you find yourself hitting a weight loss plateau, ask yourself these questions:
“How do I feel after I exercise?”
You may be overdoing it if you find yourself exhausted, sore, and worn out after a workout.
“Am I doing the right kind of exercise?”
If you are starting to work out, PACE YOURSELF. At Betr, we like to say, “stimulate, not annihilate.”
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your muscles won’t be either. Set short terms goals that contribute to your long-term success.
“Am I eating enough?”
Betr rejects diet culture’s logic of “move more, eat less.”
Weight loss is more than just calories in versus calories out. You need to fuel your body with nutritious foods and never deprive yourself.
When you exercise, always supplement with adequate protein to recover.
Listen to your body and monitor how it reacts to specific changes.
Maybe you have been unable to lose weight because you have been over-exercising?
Talk to your Betr coach or trainer to make meaningful changes.
