Are You An Exercise Addict?

Do you have to exercise on a rigid schedule every day? Do you only eat what you want if you’ve worked out? Do you feel anxious when you don’t exercise? Do you exercise when you’re injured and fall apart if you don’t? Do you avoid social situations with your friends and family because you have to exercise?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be an exercise addict. While moving your body is better than being a couch potato, too much can lead to eating disorders, injuries, internal organ damage, depression, and strained relationships. So before it becomes an unhealthy addiction, follow these tips to curb your exercise obsession:

Break The Pattern: As with any addiction, recovery begins with admitting that the problem exists. To break your obsessive patterns, start by varying your exercise routine. Then bring in a day or two per week of active recovery with activities such as walking or restorative yoga rather than excessive aerobics. If you don’t let your body recover, you’re never going to give it the opportunity to heal and get stronger.

Write It Down: When you’re having those wild cravings for exercise, use that distracted energy to write about your feelings in a journal. This will help you find the root cause of your exercise obsession.

Get Help: Some exercise addictions are very serious and professional help should be sought. If you or someone you know has developed an unhealthy habit, please contact your local addiction treatment center for help. To learn more, watch this WebMD clip on exercise addiction, or pick up a copy of The Exercise Balance: What's Too Much, What's Too Little, and What's Just Right for You!

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