Attention Athletes: Slow Down!

An intense workout may be doing more harm to your health than good.

Attention athletes, gym rats, crossfitters, tabata-lovers, and exercise addicts in general! I have something to say to you, and you’re not going to like it:

Slow down.

I know, these words are akin to blasphemy to the serious trainers out there—myself included. But I realized recently that I have been pushing myself so hard for so many years, that at 26 my body is already starting to protest! So I decided to tone it down a bit and sprinkle in some more moderate exercises into my regimen.

Experts agree that moderate exercise is important to your overall health. Here’s why:

• You’ll live longer. What could be more important than this? According to a recent study by the Cooper Institute in Dallas, joggers who moved at a moderate intensity (10-11 minute miles) had a lower risk of mortality than those who ran more than 20 miles a week at a faster pace.

• You’ll reduce your risk of injury. When you work out too hard, you deplete your body’s energy, and you become more likely to injure yourself. Studies show that if you work out intensely for 5 or more days per week, you can increase your chance of injury. So unless you’re training for something for a short period of time—take it easy.

• The Tough Stuff Will be easier. When you train regularly at a lower intensity, your body will be healthier and have more energy for when you do participate in the tough, intense work outs.

• You’ll Enjoy Working Out More. I know, sounds like a paradox to some people, right? But yes, working out can be fun. And if you’re hating your workouts, maybe it is because you are pushing yourself beyond a natural level. So mix it up with some moderate exercise as well (walking, yoga, light jogging, etc.).

• You’ll sleep better. This didn’t make sense to me at first either—my thought is that the harder the workout, the better I’ll sleep. Turns out, if you’re not sleeping well, it could be because of a tough workout later in the day. When you push yourself hard, your adrenaline runs high. If you’re working out after work or a few hours before sleep, you might still be on your post-workout high when your head hits the pillow. A moderate workout won’t make your adrenaline rush—something to keep in mind for all of you late-night exercisers.

These are just a handful of reasons why moderate exercise is a GOOD thing. But how can we squeeze moderate exercise into our already busy weeks?

One thing people are doing more and more is using their work hours to get some exercise in. Go for a walk in between tasks, walk down the hall to talk to a co-worker, rather than send an e-mail, park further away from the building, take the stairs, or better yet, start using a treadmill desk.

The Xdesk Fit is the desk for those healthy-minded office workers, and a perfect way to mix some moderate exercise into your routine.

Do you have an intense workout regimen? Share your thoughts below about “slowing it down” a bit with some moderate exercise!