Can exercising really be addicting? Researchers concluded that too much exercise may be similar to drug abuse and, in some cases, linked to eating disorders. In fact, nearly half of exercise addicts have reported having an eating disorder.
Just like an alcohol or drug addiction, there are health dangers to excessive exercise, such as repetitive stress injuries, heart problems and bone loss. And some suggest that more than an hour of exercise may not be good for the body, so there is no need to spend hours beating yourself up at the gym.
There are six warning signs to help determine how much is too much exercise, and to help diagnose addiction. The six warning signs include:
Tolerance – Where strenuous exercise is no longer challenging
Withdrawal – Felling anxious, moody, and hard to fall asleep at night if skipping a work out
Lack of control – Impossible to stay away from the gym
Intention - Exceeding the workout time for the day
Time - Exercise takes away from relationships and obligations
Continuance - Working out even after physical and emotional stress have hit
You can read more about the six warning signs at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/03/exerciseaddiction_n_1250027.html?ref=healthandfitness&ir=Health%20and%20Fitness&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008 along with a video on our brain’s response to addictive behavior.
Some tips on helping an exercise addiction may be finding a happy medium and working out in moderation. Other tips may include swapping out running for swimming or swapping out heavy lifting for yoga some days. Remember to pay attention to recommended exercise amounts for adults, and recommendations for recovery. On a positive note, researchers found that even as little as 10 minutes of working up a sweat can help boost our mood, so no need to over due it!
by Krista Patient
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