Show 1 Compulsive Exercise Just Say No J The Human Side SideBy By Diane Cashel i Director Drug Alcohol r 1 Education A woman has trouble keeping appointments appointments appointments ap ap- ap- ap at a job maintaining a romantic relationship or finding time for a social life But no matter what shell she'll never miss her aerobics class Compulsive exercising typically begins as a preoccupation with the perfect body an image popularized by the fashion and diet industries Often associated with eating disorders this obsessive sive behavior strikes predominantly predominantly predominantly college-age college women People who have bulimia an addictive binge-and binge purge cycle frequently use exercise as a way to rid their bodies of calories But isn't exercising healthy Not necessarily said Lee LeeAnn Ann Broussard a Tallahassee aerobic in instructor instructor instructor in- in and fitness consultant Repetitive Repetitive Repetitive Re Re- strain injuries stress fractures fractures fractures frac frac- tures and weakened immune systems are particularly common in compulsive exercisers People who obsessively exercise justify and rationalize it to others by saying that its it's healthy Broussard said But its it's not There is a point where exercising becomes like the law of diminishing returns When you exercise exercise exercise ex ex- ex- ex too much your body no longer receives benefit from it Exercise becomes becomes becomes be be- comes a stressor to your body How much is too much exercise That is difficult to define but when other areas of a persons person's life suffer because of exercise he or she might have a problem A lot of experts believe if you are exercising every single day you are over exercising according to Broussard Its difficult to say One hour of overly intense exercising could be equal to four hours of ligh ligh- ter exercise When it starts affecting other realms of your life-family life work health then obviously its it's too much To reverse the pattern of unhealthy unhealthy unhealthy un un- un- un healthy exercising Broussard works with clients to encourage breaking their addictive routines She tries to give people realistic body images and goals There is nothing wrong with wanting to reshape your body but when it gets to the point where it rules and ruins your life you need to reevaluate your goals Broussard said As spring is finally approaching now might be a good time to reevaluate reevaluate reevaluate your exercise program Are you exercising too much or do you need to get energized to maintain an exercise exercise exercise exer exer- cise that is right for you Remember that exercise is supposed supposed supposed sup sup- posed to reduce anxiety not enhance it For more information on this subject subject subject sub sub- feel free to call Diane Cashel at |