Signs that you are overdoing your gym workout

A lot of people exhibit problematic exercise patterns that don't quite reach the level of addiction

You’ve probably been told countless times that exercise is good for your health and fitness, and it’s tempting to assume that more is automatically better. But there comes a point of diminishing returns, and it’s possible to over-exercise.

Exactly what constitutes as too much physical activity, however, will depend on your individual situation.

The first thing to ask yourself is: “Why are you exercising?” said Dr Benjamin Levine, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and director of the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine at Texas Health Dallas, US.

If your goal is to improve your health, then two to three hours of moderate to vigorous exercise per week gets you the vast majority of benefits, Levine said. “Once you get past five hours per week or so, you’re not exercising for health, you’re exercising for performance.”