Getting back into a regular exercise routine has been a big focus for me so far this year. But we're 3 weeks into the new year and despite the fact I've been exercising pretty regularly I still don't feel like I'm in a routine just yet - I just can't seem to get into a rhythm that works for me.

During the first two weeks of the year, I was attending regular BodyPump classes at a local gym but this past week for various reasons I just haven't been able to fit one in. I know I shouldn't be putting pressure on myself but I feel like not going - even if it's just one week - destroys my motivation and then I just give up altogether.

One thing that is putting me off getting back into weight training is that, for those first couple of weeks, I found myself feeling extra irritable and even angry after my Pump class. This was completely foreign to me -  I've always felt that endorphin rush after exercise but, in this case, there was a definitely mood shift after my workout.

At first, I thought it was all in my head until I did some research online and found that not allowing your body enough time to recover between sessions can cause increased cortisol levels. This hormonal imbalance can cause mood swings, unusual irritability and an inability to concentrate, among other things. 

Overexertion can also be the culprit (and a more likely one in my case). Livestong.com says: "When you push your body too hard during exercise, you could experience several symptoms of overexertion. The nausea, dizziness and fatigue that often accompanies overexertion can put a damper on your workout so you leave the gym feeling cranky and tired."

Apparently, overexertion is a combination of a variety of components, including dehydration, muscle fatigue and low blood sugar and each contributes to a less-than-positive feeling after exercise.

Last weekend, instead of attending the 9am Pump class, I jumped on the treadmill to see if a healthy dose of cardio would leave me feeling the same way as my weight training. I downloaded my old faithful Couch to 5k app and restarted the program with a 30-minute session that included walking and jogging intervals.

Success! The endorphins were back (along with my bad knee)! Maybe it's because my body had properly recovered from my last Pump session (which was a full 5 days prior) or could it have been some other reason? Regardless I'll take it.

This past week, instead of attending my Monday 6am Pump class, I did 20 minutes on the exercise bike and, today, I jumped back on the treadmill for Day 2 of Couch to 5k. Mood-wise - so far so good. I'm planning to go back to Pump next week and see if I can continue my happy streak.

I'll keep you posted!