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How much exercise is too much?

168 Answers
Last Updated: 06/09/2022 at 2:45pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Tracy-Kate Teleke, PsyD, M.A., LMFT

Marriage & Family Therapist

I assist adults and couples in CA experiencing relationship challenges and interpersonal struggles including anxiety, depression, and a myriad of other life challenges.

Top Rated Answers
FrostedThornz
April 17th, 2020 9:42pm
Over an hour or when you become really really tired. If you continue to push yourself, your body is trying to say to you "stop". However, continuing can cause major body problems. Such problems include: join problems, throwing up, passing out, and more. This is NOT what exercise is supposed to look like. You need to listen to your body and know your limits. They say that pushing your limits is good, but sometimes enough is enough. Your body needs to rest and when you don't allow it to take the rest it needs, you are overworking yourself. Take it slow and easy. It is healthy and fun if you do it right!
wonderfulShoulder5046
April 22nd, 2020 4:13am
Like many other things, this answer varies from person to person based on fitness level and intensity of the workouts. It is essential to get active somehow everyday because it great for the body and mind! However, this doesn't mean everyday has to be rigorous. Find exercises that are challenging yet achievable, something that you actually enjoy doing. Listen to your body. If you're muscles are really sore, rest and care for them. If you feel able, then push yourself to do more and feel the rush of achieving your goals! Workout out of a place of self love and care, not out of hatred for the body you already have. Even if you don't have your ideal body/fitness, remember that by loving your body and being patient and consistent, results will surely come. Another thing to add is other health aspects like drinking enough water, eating nutritious food, and getting quality sleep. When your body is functioning at its best, then you will be able to exercise the best. Exercise is all about improving your overall health, both in physical and mental fitness. If it fails to do these things, then it is time to reevaluate your exercise routines.
Anonymous
April 26th, 2020 8:23pm
From personal experience I feel that exercising one hour a day is good to maintain a health life. Some people might like to exercise more. If you have the time and you are not putting to much stress on your body it is okay to exercise more. I use to work at a gym and some people stopped in there three times a day. If you are just started my recommendation is start going just a couple of times then build yourself up to going every day. Choosing to go more then once a day is a personal choice.
awaterlilly
April 29th, 2020 4:44am
Getting enough exercise is important for self-care but there are instances when one can overdo it. Too much exercise occurs when you stop listening to what your body is telling you and push yourself past the point of benefiting from the experience. The American Heart Association recommends about 2.5 hours of heart-pumping physical activity each week. No two bodies are exactly alike so the best way to evaluate whether you are exercising too much is to listen to your body. If you are experiencing negative physical or even mental outcomes from exercise, you may very well be exercising too much!
Anonymous
April 29th, 2020 5:02pm
Exercise is really good for you, like really good. I wouldn't say that there isn't a maximum amount of exercise. Everyone has different tendencies and can tolerate more, depending on their physical and mental stability. A good stopping point is when you start to feel faint or tired. Never push yourself to the breaking point, know yourself and stop when you think you are getting to the end of your abilities to keep moving. You should also get lots of sleep after exercising, for example I wouldn't go for a run at 1am, then not go to bed; as that is really bad for both you mental and physical state. If you have any more questions about exercise feel free to message any listener and we can do our best to help. :) Have a great day :)
Anonymous
May 8th, 2020 11:06pm
Too much exercise is an amount that overwhelms your body. You may become dehydrated from exercising to hard and not receiving proper fluids. If you go from lifting dumbbells for 20 minutes daily to running 2 miles and going through a whole 60-minute exercise routine, you are pushing your body too far. The latter workout is most definitely possible, but you need to gradually build from being the dumbbell person to the 2-miler. Even if you don't exercise at all; with enough determination, time, and motivation, you will get there. Just make sure that whatever workout you choose to do, you properly warm up, cool down, and fuel your body.
Anonymous
May 21st, 2020 12:03pm
When the body starts aching ,liganemmts start streching nad there is no energy left but you are still pushing , then it is the sign that its too much exercise . You and your body needs a break .Like sometimes , few people will push themseleves upto a horrendeous limit , which is very bad . body has a threshols , suppose its like a rubber band if strectched to much sna dtoo much so it will break down , Thats the same thing with the body as well . When strectch too much , it will break down completely .
Anonymous
June 24th, 2020 2:44am
I think that too much exercise would be overworking your body to the point of not caring for it. The body really has to relax and give itself time to relax! If you don't give your body time to relax, you will not properly be ready for the next time you exercise. Too much exercise can be 5-7 days of exercise, because the recommended exercise days are usually 3-4 days per week. Running every day would be overkill as well because too much running can put strain on your joints and make you feel tired as well.
Anonymous
July 4th, 2020 5:42am
When you are going super intense, exercising a lot longer than the required amount, and exercising until you are in a lot of pain is too much. It is important to exercise the recommended amount daily or a few times a week. Do exercises that you enjoy and work with you or else exercising will be extra hard and painful. And it is okay to take a day off at least once a week. Overworking your body can have a negative impact and you can really injure yourself as well. Make sure to be careful, have a healthy and controlled diet, and enjoy your exercises!
Anonymous
July 5th, 2020 3:49pm
A healthy half hour to one and a half hours a day is good for you but even a simple one or three hours a week is good enough, depending on whether it's for general fitness or if you want to lose weight. doing several hours a day without rest is unhealthy and exhausting. You'll know when it's too much if your body starts to gain negative effects such as tiredness and extreme muscle pain. There is nothing wrong with exercising a lot, but you have to make sure you're not over doing your body's limit and putting yourself in a bad position.
MagneticSunset
July 17th, 2020 7:15am
Too much exercise is when your body starts to hurt. Your body has built-in mechanisms to let you know when you're going too far. If you feel pain, you should stop and rest. The reason why some people feel sore after working out is a prime example of the cool things your body does to try and make you take it easier. Your muscles get sore because they're not able to use oxygen quickly enough to breakdown sugars to make your muscles move. When there isn't enough oxygen, those sugars get broken down into lactic acid which makes your body sore because it's a little acidic. Please make sure to drink A LOT of water before, during, and after workouts. Also, please seek medical attention if you find yourself in extended excruciating pain.
Anonymous
July 22nd, 2020 2:33am
I think that it's very important to listen to your body when it comes to exercise. When your body has had enough it will tell you through exhaustion and extreme fatigue. There is a big difference though between needing to push past that hard part and pushing too far. Sometimes we do not realize until the next day, or a couple of days after that. I think the best approach is to continue to listen to your body. Exercise is truly a medicine though. It can help with so many medical issues, especially when it comes to mental health!
TacoBoutIt0517
August 6th, 2020 3:33am
Exercise is “too much” when It is overly forced or it makes you feel more drained than accomplished. It is “too much” when it causes distress, feelings of defeat, or the constant need to keep going vs reaching attainable goals and allowing breaks for physical and mental recovery. Exercise is “too much” when it overpowers healthy goals and a healthy mindset. It is also “too much” if you are doing it for anyone other than yourself and if you are not making realistic goals for your health. Exercising is healthy, but it’s important to find a good balance too.
talkswithariba
August 27th, 2020 10:44pm
Exercising is an important thing for a healthy life. But exercising too much can be unhealthy, and may even become a serious problem. Body builders and trainers do long hours of training, however they eat enough as well. For beginners, and for people who just want incorporate exercise in their daily routine for health or maybe weight loss, 60 to 90 minutes are more than enough. Exercising too much like 2 to 3 hours is not good for health as it can get you exhausted and burnt out and may even become a disorder. While exercise is gold for health, too much of it is unhealthy and should be avoided.
Charlotte996
September 2nd, 2020 5:12am
In hobby/habit reaches extremes when it starts to interfere with daily living. It can also be considered unhealthy if it affects your professional life as well as your relationships with other people. In other words, is your work/studies showing a dip in productivity? Are people cutting you out of their lives or complaining that you're not being attentive to them as you might have been before. The other aspect to keep in mind is the mental strain that it places on you. If you can't think of anything else or if the need to exercise brings on intense feelings of anxiety and drepression, especially if those feelings weren't there before. Exercise is a very good thing if, like all things in life, it's done in moderation.
Anonymous
September 6th, 2020 8:15pm
Everyone's body is different and your body speaks to you. Pushing yourself too much can cause pain in the future and also harm to your body such as pulled muscles and soreness. It is best to leave at least 2 days during the week to rest in my opinion. This is best because it allows your body to respond to the exercise you previously did. If you are sore and feel like your too tired to work out don't put yourself in harm's way. Stretch out your muscles daily even when not working out because this is a good way to prevent injury in the future.
ScoreKing
September 19th, 2020 8:57pm
Healthy exercise should not interfere with other daily obligations. WHen one is spending the majority of their day and neglecting necessary chores- it may be too much. Or when you are ignoring relationships for the pursuit of fitness. Also too much exercise may be impacting overall health with repetetive injuries- stress fractures. Another indicator is weight loss below what is considered healthy. Spending a major portion of one's income towards the exercise regimen and forgetting to allot money to pay essential bills. All of these points can start to affect one's life in a way that primary focus is pursuit of exercise program.
ItsRenee
September 23rd, 2020 7:11am
The amount of exercise that someone needs is completely based on their own body, as well as their mental health. When exercise is fun, makes you feel good about yourself, and doesn’t interfere too much with your other commitments, it’s great! Exercise becomes excessive when you feel guilty for missing a workout, you wholeheartedly dread doing it, or you find yourself declining plans because you are focusing on breaking a sweat. These things can be indicative of an eating disorder, so if these things match what you feel, consider seeking help. I hope I was able to answer your question! :)
Anonymous
September 30th, 2020 11:58pm
I think that your body will know it when it's time to rest. You need to learn to hear the signal your body is sending you and that's the key. I think that one hour a that is probably enough. If I look at my past experiences I learn it at my depend to stay aware at the signal, when you tend to fall in the calorie counting while exercising I think you need to check to be sure that you're not over-exercising. I was doing too much exercise compulsively and finally broke my ankle in a ways that I will not be able to do competitive sport again
EliseIsHere13
November 8th, 2020 3:19am
I think that too muxh exercise is when you're too tired, thirsty, stressed, or weak to continue. When that happens, take a break! Drink some water, rest on the couch. When you feel well enough again, if you want to keep exercising, you can, but pace yourself. If you work too hard or go too fast, you'll burn yourself out, and that isn't good for anybody. If you wake up sore the next day, you did good. If you wake up in pain, rest for a few days and try a slightly less intensive workout then. Nobody wants t see you hurt!
Anonymous
November 19th, 2020 2:16am
When your body tells you it's too much. Listen to your body, there's no set amount of excersize per day that is standard for every human being. Some athletes train for hours and hours, and for some a short walk is good. Too much would be when you feel the effects of not being able to function because of over excersize. You'll know. It's all about the balance and the nutritional intake as well. If you have additional concerns you can make an appointment with a doctor or nutritionist or personal trainer that can provide insight on your specific body type
Anonymous
November 29th, 2020 6:36pm
Doctors suggest exercising for a minimum of 30 minutes to an hour every day for young adults-adults. However, exercising far beyond that can be very detrimental as it can result in muscle strains/tears and leave your body in a state that is far worse. It is important to push against your limits, but pushing yourself too hard isn’t very welcoming. Don’t exercise to the point of extreme exhaustion, such as the brink of fainting. Take a break when you need to, in fact, always take breaks. Your body needs to breathe. Stay well hydrated as well and go at a pace that isn’t too overwhelming.
Anonymous
December 4th, 2020 4:59pm
When it the amount of exercise you do is interfering with your daily life, then it may be too much. Exercise can help you stay healthy and keep you in a good mood but it is important that you also consider the other factors that you have in your life. Social experiences even during the pandemic can also boost your confidence and if exercise is cutting down on these activities, then you may want to cut down on them. Just make sure to do everything in moderation. Thats a good way to live a healthy and happy life.
laceybudd
December 26th, 2020 4:52am
I would say that too much exercise happens when your body and mind is exhausted. You have to listen to your body and know when you have exerted yourself for the week. Rest days are good for you as they allow you the recharge and get the energy needed to keep performing effective workouts. If you are drained and exhausted after working out then it may be time for a break. Listen to your body and allow yourself breaks even though it can be easy to keep pushing yourself. If you are constantly drained in every workout, you won't get the full potential out of it that you could have if you were rested.
Anonymous
December 30th, 2020 2:45am
Once a healthy habit becomes dangerous, it is time to reconsider. Everything in life has to have a balance, exercise can be a great way to cope with emotions and improve your health. Do not exceed it and try to contact a professional trainer who can tailor a plan for you. You have to keep in mind that you age, height, weight and eating habits are important factors in determining whether you are exercising too much. In general I believe adults should get around 5 or 6 hours a week of moderate exercise. Just remember our limits are different.
paintedrocks
February 24th, 2021 6:26pm
Although exercise is in fact good for you, it's important not to push your body past its own limits. Your heart should not be hurting when working out and you should leave feeling a bit more energized than before. If you are not used to exercising, start out small with 15 minutes of cardio or less a day and see what your heart can handle. It's important not to stress it. After a while you can start adding more time to your workouts and strengthen your heart rather than ruin it! Also make sure to fuel up and drink plenty of water.
CarlsonC
March 4th, 2021 1:48am
Hi there! Exercise is one of those things in which the amount is really subjective to where you're at physically. Some might be itching for more after a 10 kilometer jog, and others feel absolutely winded after catching up to a fleeting bus. I think the best advice here is to listen to your body and know when it tells you to stop. Start with some light exercising in your first day, then amp it up a little in the next. Keep amping it up till you reach a day where you feel like you can't complete it, and there's your limit! Now that you know that limit, try to exercise at a level where you feel comfortable enough to complete it, but still challenging enough that you feel satisfied with the workout. As an example, try doing 10 reps on a 5kg weight the first day, then try 7kg, 8 and 9, till you reach 20kg where you can't complete 10 in a row. Now maybe you'll stick with 18 or 19kg weights, and you won't be overexerting yourself!
Petrichor2000
March 17th, 2021 3:48am
We human are amazing beings. We can get addicted or habituated to anything and by the definition of addiction, if it's affecting other parts and circles of your life then it's bad. On the personal level if you find yourself unable to do something due to muscle fatigue regularly, well that's a red flag. Watch out for them. There's also one more sign. If you are working out but not taking ample amounts of nutrients when then chances are those exercises are being detrimental to you. Take care and hope you find a right balance and don't get demotivated. Remember where there's a will, there's a way.
Anonymous
March 17th, 2021 5:36pm
Some people love to exercise or have a habit of exercising a lot or often. However, it can sometimes be hard to tell how much exercise is too much exercise. Generally speaking, if exercising is having a deleterious effect on mental or physical health, the amount of exercise being engaged in may be too much. For instance, if a person is experiencing overuse injuries of their muscles, joints, or other body parts, or if a person is unable to maintain a healthy weight as a result of exercise, then it's possible the amount of exercise they are performing is too much.
Anonymous
March 20th, 2021 2:17am
Exercising to the point of obsession is not good , everything should be done on moderation that includes exercise. Don't starve yourself , don't stress yourself