I pushed myself too hard at the gym – and ended up in the hospital

Excessive exercise can harm muscle cells so much that their contents overload the system. Composite: The Guardian/Getty Images

In January 2025, I attended my first bootcamp class.

I had spent the day hunched over my laptop, anxious and craving an intense workout that would dispel my worries. I booked the class at a nearby gym, and the five-star reviews promised the all-consuming exercise I wanted: “Militant style instructor, but very motivating,” read one. Another: “Hardest workout of my life; extremely rewarding.”