Are you exercising TOO much? Five signs you need to cut down

It's no secret that exercise is good for us, heck, it's probably the best thing going!

But as the saying goes, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. And while a lot of us find it hard to actually get up and workout, once you do it can become addictive. 

And when Ellie Goulding revealed today that she's toned down her exercise regime after doctors warned her she was overdoing it, we got thinking about our own fitness habits.

One of the most important stages of working out is the recovery period, so unless you're giving your body some down time, you won't be reaping in the full rewards.

These are signs to look out for if you might be over-doing it:

1. When you exercise, you leave feeling exhausted rather than energised – this is a sure sign your muscles need a break.

 

2. Injuries and illnesses are slow to clear up. Healthy people have good immune systems, so if yours isn't top notch, you certainly need to rest.

 

3. You have a short temper. Exercising too much can lead to stress build-up, which in turn effects your level of tolerance for even the most mundane things. 

 

4. You're doing several sessions of exercise a day, but you're not actually training for anything.

 

5. You can't sleep. Working out too much can make your body a super-stress zone because your levels of cortisol peak, leading to insomnia. So, if you want to catch some z's, it's time to cut down on the gym.