Too much exercise causing me to have too much energy and insomnia?

[Lovemusic33]

I have been trying to improve my health for the past 6 months, started with a couple trips to the gym a week ( a hour each time ) and improving my diet, gradually I have upped the exercise I am doing and I now go to the gym 4 times a week ( up to a hour and a half each time ), swim once a week, use a keep fit dvd 4 evenings a week and I try and walk 4-5k 3 times a week ( sometimes more ), I am slightly obsessed with my activity bracelet and how many steps I can do in a day.

My life has been quite stressful over the past year so I guess it has become a control thing, it's the only thing I feel I have control over. For the past few weeks I have struggled to switch off, I try and sit down in the evenings but I often feel I could go for a run, I feel like I have too much energy to rest and sleep.

So is it a physical issue ( I'm doing too much and becoming very fit ) or a mental issue?

How do you sleep when you do finally manage to sleep? And how do you feel when you wake up - refreshed or not? I empathise with the struggling to switch off - I'm like that. And I too feel that exercise is the only thing in my life I have control over, so I tend to go a bit overboard with it. If you sleep well and feel fine, and your body is not suffering because of your exercise the you probably don't have anything to worry about. However, becoming obsessed with anything is generally not a positive thing! (I speak from experience.)

I tend to have a couple bad nights with just a couple hours sleep followed by a couple good nights. I feel if I don't exercise enough I won't sleep, then I am expressing more and more to try and tire myself out ( vicious circle ), I'm not working at the moment so I guess it's the only thing that keeps my mind and body busy. I'm not usually the type to get obsessed over things but I think this is because I am seeing benefits and feel in control.

I don't know about other things but I know trouble sleeping is a sign of overtraining when your running.

Insomnia is a sign of overtraining. Along with a poor immune system, so if you start regularly picking up colds then alarm bells really should ring. Ditto minor injuries. Also are you feeling tired and achy or low? It's worth remembering that whilst exercise is necessary to get fitter and stronger, that bit of the equation tears up your body, it is during recovery that muscles are rebuilt stronger so it is just as essential.

I'd make sure you are having one or two rest days a week ('active rest', a walk or gentle swim is fine) and also suggest you swap one or two of your gym/dvd workouts for yoga, which can improve your strength and flexibility but won't stress your body in the same way as your other workouts.

Are you having rest days at all? What time are you doing your exercise videos as you say at night? From what I've read exercise should be done with at least three hours to spare before bedtime in an ideal world. Gives time for all that adrenaline and dopamine that's released to settle down again.

I do sympathise, I often feel like I have far too much energy now I'm way fitter than I used to be. I have to force myself for one or two down days every week but have trained myself to look at it as a necessay evil to help prevent injuries. You could incorporate your walks on your rest days instead and as sleepwhenidie suggested, swop for some yoga or pilates instead of exercise videos?

I do the dvd workout early evening or late afternoon, I try not to do any exercise after 6pm. Some days I ache but I assumed that was just from pushing myself that little bit further. I try and rest on Sunday's and I don't go to the gym at all over the weekend ( will just work out at home for a hour Saturday ). I will look into yoga, that might be more relaxing.

I would also, stop any electronic devices two hours before bed, bath and some decent salt to relax your muscle, go for a good massage.

Along with meditation and yoga

You say stress has been a factor in your life and I wonder whether this has more bearing on your sleep than the thought of over training..?