Exercise is always a good thing. It releases endorphins that make you feel good and motivate you to do more. But as we all have heard, ‘Too much of anything is bad’, and the same is the case with exercise. There is no harm when it comes to working out hard to meet your goal. But if your goal becomes to work out hard, then that is a problem, and you should worry about that. You can try to become faster, stronger, leaner, more muscular, or any of those things but make sure that your commitments are realistic and that they don’t make you cross the fine line between a workout enthusiast and a workout addict. You may be working out in the gym, or at home, you might have gone to https://www.bulknutrients.co.nz/ for your essential nutrients, you have the best coach in the world. Just make sure that your goals are realistic and not too obsessive.
WHAT IS EXERCISE ADDICTION?
Yes! It is a thing. Exercise addiction exists, and we have seen people who want to spend entire days in the gym. Exercise addiction or fitness obsession is when you are engaged in your favorite activity like running, training, lifting, or any other activity, and instead of being pleasurable, it becomes compulsive. It starts taking up over your routine, and you find that there are other everyday activities that are being hampered because of it. You might find out that you are missing out on social life and personal life, and you are coming up with excuses to justify your actions.
1. Your relationships are suffering
One of the major signs that you are way over your head is when your social and personal life takes a hit because of your workout. When you find yourself spending more and more time at the gym and even sacrificing your family and friends for it, then it is time to take a step back and review the entire situation. You need the proper balance in your life, and your body needs a break from such a tiring routine.
2. You’re constantly getting injured
Putting too much strain on your body can really hurt you physically as well as mentally. When you are exercising, all your systems are working overtime. If you do it thrice a week or even once a day, depending on your routine, it is fine. But if you do it more than that, you will see that you are continuously falling ill or getting injured. This is because your body will not be able to handle the pressure and the strain that you are putting on it. Don’t sacrifice your body for your goals. Having a healthy and strong body is the goal.
3. You’re 100% invested in your sport and nothing else
If you find out that you are taking time off of other tasks that you have to complete to go to the gym, then you are definitely obsessed with fitness. When you see that you are spending more time on your workout routine rather than your hobbies, interests, social interactions, or anything else, then you either need to stop yourself or you need to consult a mental health professional so that they can guide you. it is never a good idea to take anything too far, and that includes your fitness.
4. You’ve become overly competitive and self-critical
There is an inherent joy in completing a difficult task. You set a goal for yourself, and when you complete it, you feel the happiness even though you might be tired. Similarly, there is a downside to not achieving your goal. You feel bummed. If you discover that you are not feeling the good vibes when you complete your workout or if you are more stressed than you should be when you fail at achieving your task, then you are definitely on the wrong side of the fence. People who are addicted to fitness are wound up really tight, and they also suffer from poor emotional management. Don’t be that guy.
5. You’re going to the gym every single day, sometimes more than once a day
Working out every day might be a lofty goal, but it is not realistic. There are all sorts of tasks that you have to do at home, at the office, and you also have a social life. But if you find out that you are practically living at the gym, then that poses a problem. If you know the ins and outs of the gym better than the owner of the gym, then you definitely need to take a step back. Overtraining not only hampers your other tasks, but it is also dangerous to your physical as well as mental health.
6. You’re guilt-ridden if you miss a workout
People who suffer from fitness obsession feel an intense bout of guilt when they miss out on their workout. This results in overtraining the next day or for the next many days to come. If you find that you are beating yourself up because you missed just one day at the gym, it is time to look at your life and set your priorities straight.
7. You’re using exercise to moderate your emotions
A lot of us hit the gym to take out their frustrations and stress in a positive manner. There is also the high that comes from an intense workout. But don’t rely on your exercise alone to regulate your feelings and emotions. If you only feel happy when you are working out and missing it makes you angry, then you could be on a very dangerous road to obsession.
8. You’re obsessed with your weight or physique
Another symptom that you are totally addicted to exercise is when you start exercising only to burn the calories that you took or to earn some special dish that you really want. If you had a little too much to eat the day before and the next day you over train to compensate for it, then that is definitely addictive behavior.
9. You can’t stop thinking about going to the gym
An easy way to find out if you are addicted to the gym or not is to keep a check on what you are thinking about. If you are always thinking about hitting the gym, then this is unhealthy behavior, and you really need to talk to an expert.
10. You Exercise in Unsafe Conditions
Are you out in the cold and the snow because you haven’t run today? Are you sick and still trying to do the HIIT routine that you have selected for yourself? Remember: safety always comes first. It’s a contradiction that your exercise is making you unhealthy as it is the thing we do to become healthy and strong.
CONCLUSION
If you see any of these ten symptoms in you or in anyone you know, it is time to step back and evaluate your life and your goals. If you continue on this path, nothing good will come out of it.