Running is a great way to burn calories, but it isn’t necessarily something that you should be doing. It can cause damage, especially if there are already problems. The knees and ankles receive pressure with every step that you take. Here are some of the signs that it’s time to give up running, just for now.
You Constantly Feel Tired
If you constantly feel tired, it is possible that you’re overtraining. Your body needs rest, and it can mean that skipping a training session or two is much better for you. Listen to your feelings and take a nap if you really need to. Being tired all the time will make your mood slump, cause stressful situations to seem worse and make you eat food that is bad for you.
You Feel Pain
“No pain, no gain.” That’s a common saying but that doesn’t mean you should hurt every single time you go out for a run. A lot of the time, pain is a sign that you should stop training.
Having the odd ache in the muscles after training is fine, but feeling pain in the knees, ankles or any part of the body while you’re running is bad. If you keep training, it could lead to a bigger medical problem. Let your body recover and get back out when the pain stops.
Your Periods Have Stopped
If your periods stop and it’s not because you’re pregnant, it is a bad sign. You will want to speak to the doctor, but it could be due to running too much.
If your body loses too much weight, it will go into a defence mechanism to prevent you losing too many calories or energy. Try giving up running for a while and see if that makes a difference.
You’re Struggling to Gain Weight
You may have taken up running because you wanted to lose weight. However, it is possible to go the other way. Running burns calories and if you’re not eating enough you will find it hard to gain weight. You need to stop running and see if that helps you put on the pounds. There could be an underlying reason, so you will also want to speak to your doctor about this.
You Need to Run
Do you feel the need to run? While it is good for you, too much is bad for you. It is possible to become addicted to running, and it may be because you’re replacing something else with it.
The next time you feel the need to run, consider whether it’s something that your body really needs. You could find that your body needs the rest.
You Don’t Enjoy It
Do you run for the sake of running? If you’re not enjoying it, you’re not going to get all the benefits you can from it.
You’ll end up resenting exercise and it could have an adverse effect on you in later life. Activity is good, so find something that you love to do.