What are the problems associated with overexertion, and how can you tell when it's time to stop.

[GomoOleg]

TL;DR: I overtrained to the point of injury (230 hours of cardio in 3 months). Here is a reality check on dysmorphia, hormone development, overexertion, and why you need to stop killing your body for fast results.

Personal Reality Check​

I’m speaking from direct experience here. Over the past 3 months, I accumulated roughly 230 hours of intense cardio - averaging 2 to 3 hours of training every single day without proper recovery. The result? I pulled a tendon in my arm, compromised my joints, and now I’ve been forced to take a full week of absolute rest just to recover.
Below is a photo I took out at open sea during one of my sessions before my body finally gave out:

Dysmorphia, Babyfat, and Hormonal Reality​

A lot of guys on this forum are dangerously obsessed with immediate physical perfection. Here is the biological truth: your frame and facial structure are not fully developed until around age 25.
Having a leaner frame or carrying leftover baby fat is completely normal. It’s tied to active hormonal shifts during adolescence that cause temporary fluid retention in facial tissues. As you age, facial fat redistribution naturally sharpens your features. Stop trying to rush a process that relies on age and biological maturity.

Key Guidelines to Protect Your Health​

• Never train while completely exhausted: Instead of building an aesthetic physique, overexertion depletes your muscle glycogen stores (and liver glycogen), stalling muscle growth and, in extreme cases, hindering overall physical development.
• Avoid unnecessary supplements and PEDs: Standard, whole food contains more than enough nutrients. Supplements are meant for targeted clinical deficiencies or hormonal management. As a teenager, your natural hormone production is already running at peak capacity - throwing random compounds into the mix is useless and counterproductive.
• Stop immediately at the first sign of joint or tendon pain: Pushing through sharp joint pain isn't "mindset" - it's how you end up with severe strains, tears, and forced months off the gym like I just experienced.
• Compare yourself only to your past self: Stop letting random anonymous accounts on the internet evaluate your worth or rate your biology. Focus strictly on your own physical progress, health metrics, and mental clarity.

Final Thoughts​

I hope this brief breakdown gives some needed perspective. It's almost funny talking about teenage biological development considering I'm only 17 myself, but seeing guys ruin their joints and health over dysmorphia made me want to write this.
Drop a comment below if you want Part 2 covering healthy athletic nutrition without supplements or performance-enhancing substances.