The more you exercise the better! True, but not quite. We live under a perpetual illusion that exercise is unconditionally great for the body. Too much of anything is bad, and the same universal truth applies to fitness exercising routines as well. Exercising, though considered the most beneficial activity in one's lifestyle, can wreak havoc when it turns into an “addiction”.
You may think that running several miles a day- everyday, or doing more than a thousand crunches a day, accompanied by a low fat, low calories diet will keep you healthy. You're in for a rude shock! Being committed to a healthy lifestyle is great. However, when this pledge turns into servility and obsession, the negative side to exercising surfaces and overtakes the positive, and you unknowingly become vulnerable to physical, social, and psychological damage.
Even if you have developed a fixation for exercise, it could be an efficacious addiction, where you take out time for your healthy pursuits from your work commitments and family responsibilities. This inclination must not become enslavement. Do not confuse exercise addiction for over-training syndrome, the latter being, more often than not, a case of training for peak performance and competition in athletes. The former, on the contrary, is a chronic condition, the difference established by an attitude of pursuing high levels of physical training volume, even though it is against the practitioners best interest.
Does this ring a bell? You may recognize an exercise addict by his lack of involvement in work, friends, family, and community at large, with all attention diverted towards exercise. Other symptoms that lead to the diagnosis of exercise addiction are: passing up emotional connections for additional hours of sweating it out in the gym, when neither injury nor illness preempt a workout, when all free time is consumed by training, a feeling of guilt if exercise is missed even a single day, and a display of anxiety, irritability, and depression if anything interferes with exercising.
Such individuals are also known to be very particular about maintaining a “healthy diet” Vegetables, high- fiber food, and lots of water are incorporated. However, when calculated, the total caloric fat, and protein intake is very low. A physical exam reveals low body temperature, low or weak pulse, low blood pressure, dehydration and more.
Healthy exercising is all about hard work and discipline, whereas, compulsive exercise pertains to repeatedly exercising more than what is considered safe. Reasons vary from a sense of power and self-respect, to a desire to forget problems and stresses of life, and as a chore or self-imposed punishment. With physical safety placed in jeopardy, such addictive behavior can lead to dangers of dehydration, stress fracture and osteoporosis, degenerative arthritis, amenorrhea (loss of menstrual cycle), reproductive problems, and heart problems.
Unhealthy exercise takes away from the total sum of human happiness. A truly healthy body contains a healthy mind, and it is towards the same, that all health conscious people should aim. Exercise moderately and be safe!