Max Effort, Min Health: The Downsides of Going All-Out in Exercise
Does every workout that you do have you feeling sore for days? Do you end up a sweaty mess of exhaustion, passed out on the floor? Maybe
It is time to reconsider your current approach and realize that it may not be the best option for your overall health, performance, or even longevity in your sport. Here are three reasons why!
Immune Function: Exercise has many incredible benefits to our health. It has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer, improve cardiovascular function and health, reduce the risk of depression, and decrease the risk of certain diseases related to metabolic function. But did you know that after prolonged or high-intensity exercise, your immune function is suppressed for up to 24 hours? (Walsh et al., 2011b) With proper timing of intensity and recovery, this suppressed immune function does not lead to a significant risk of illness. However, prolonged periods of exercise with insufficient rest and recovery can lead to an increased risk.
Longevity: Our ultimate goal is for you to create a lifelong fitness habit that will result in something you love! Over the years, I have seen many people become involved in sports and have a goal or event that was the only thing on their list. This approach, paired with an all-in-training theory, ultimately resulted in a departure from sport and healthy lifestyle activities once the final goal was met. Think of your health and fitness, much like the stock market. There will be good periods and bad periods, but your goal of investing in your health should be much the same. Know that you are in it for the long game with the final result being your success. Ultimately, that is accomplished through steady, consistent deposits in your fitness.
Personal goal accomplishment: There are many HIIT-style fitness centers out there that focus on group training. The community and camaraderie of these facilities can be amazing for motivation and continuation. Is this in your best interest for every workout? I don’t believe so! How can the same workout be equally beneficial for the 21-year-old college student, the 40-year-old mother of 3, and the 55-year-old man? Each of these individuals is at a different stage of life, potentially varying fitness levels, and likely have differing goals. This is one of the many reasons we suggest a more personalized approach for high-intensity workouts.
So, the next time you step foot into the gym or go to your local group workout, I suggest you consider if it meets your goals and then assess what you want your level of involvement to be.
