Is there a limit to the amount you should exercise?

How much exercise should you be getting

It’s a pretty safe bet that no one – not your significant other, physician or personal trainer – have, nor will, ever berate you because you are ‘simply working out way too much’. On the contrary, the biggest exercise risk most of us face is either injury due to incorrect form, or falling into the black hole that is a sedentary lifestyle.

When we make the commitment to stick to a strict diet and workout regimen, it is fair to expect solid results. However, it’s wise to know how much you can expect of yourself to reach your goals; we are all familiar with the age-old platitude, ‘too much of anything is bad for you.’

So what exactly is the maximum amount of exercise you can put in on a daily-to-weekly basis? Read on to find out more.

Call the doctor, consult the trainer

Before you join a gym or health club, have your GP do a check-up. These people are the most qualified to let you know how much you can push yourself, and what you should be avoiding at all costs. Do not take your health for granted. Check in with the doc.

Once you get the okay-go from your personal physician, enlist the services of a qualified personal trainer. These individuals make their bread and butter from consulting professional athletes and aspiring gym bunnies (that’s you) alike. Chat to them about what you have in mind for your physique (more fitness, muscle, dropping weight, etc.) in order for them to help you identify a workout routine that is suited to your needs.

Usually they are also qualified to work out a special nutrition plan for clients too but, if you do have special dietary needs, consider checking in with a dietician too.

Don’t be a hero

No matter how strong or fast you get, you will always have limits that you should not be pushing. We’re all in a hurry to look fit and capable in the gym, but don’t try benching 100kg or rowing forty kilometres on your first day. Get to know your body and what you are capable of, and progress at a practical pace; you will improve with time.   

Age sucks

Sorry for breaking this to you, but forty-year-old you is not twenty-year-old you. As we age, our bodies take longer to get back into shape, and are harder to keep that way. Be realistic about how much you can afford to push yourself. It’s better than being hauled into an ambulance and speeding off to the emergency room.

Take a break

Even professional athletes have days off. Not only does not giving your body time to recover pose serious health and injury risks, but it also seriously impacts your gains. Muscles and joints need time to recover.

Remember that you were born with a little thing called common sense. Make common sense your closest gym partner, and be ready to reap the benefits.