A study of male Harvard graduates compared longevity rates of major athletes (meaning those who lettered in a particular sport), minor athletes (those who participated but didn’t letter), and non athletes. It was assumed that the major athletes, who presumably exercised the hardest, would have the greatest longevity, but, in fact, it was the minor athletes who lived the longest.
What does this mean? Well, for starters, when it comes to life-extending physical activity, moderation is best. There’s no need to train like an Olympic athlete, because too much exercise is just as bad as too little. Studies suggest that overexercising actually decreases the number of new brain cells your body creates. In one study, rats that overexercised produced half as many brain cells as rats who hadn’t even exercised at all. Of course rats aren’t people, but researchers theorize a correlation to human overexercising.
The key is to strengthen and maintain your body’s and brain’s systems, not abuse them, which is what an excessive physical regimen does. If you feel pain, you may be working too hard. Slow down and listen to your body. It will tell you what it needs and when you’ve gone too far.