Exercise Abuse

Continued...

How can you tell if you are abusing exercise? Ask yourself the following questions

Quiz

1. Do you feel guilty if a day goes by when you don't work out?

2. Are you putting more time into your workouts and not improving? Not even enjoying it?

3. Do you feel tired and lethargic but still have difficulty sleeping?

4. Do you have injuries that don't seem to heal?

5. Are you reluctant to take time off to heal the injuries or even see a physician for evaluation?

6. Are you ignoring aspects of your work, social life or family life in order to put your workouts first?

7. Do you feel a compulsion to work out even if you are tired? Is your exercise routine a source of stress?

8. Do you increase or decrease your exercise based on your weight or what you have eaten?

9. Do you suffer from insomnia, undesired weight loss, fatigue, lethargy, irritability, loss of menstrual periods, multiple chronic injuries or stress fractures?

10. Are you depressed if you are unable to exercise?

If you answered yes to several of these questions you probably are exercising too much.

What to do

If recognized early exercise addiction and overtraining can be overcome. Simple overtraining responds to rest and information about proper training techniques can help. Refocusing physical and mental energy into healing, rest and balance isn't always easy if you are an exercise addict or a perfectionist with unrealistic exercise goals, recovery is often best achieved with professional help.

What should you do?

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Foreword: Billie Jean King

Comments by Barb Harris
Editor in Chief,
Shape Magazine

General Health
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