Subscribe!
My Love Of The Gym
Sometimes, I wonder if I am obsessed with the gym. Â It is my one addiction. Â I really love going to the gym and exercising. Â It feels great to ‘Move It’ and in so many creative ways. Â Being back in the US and going to the ” Super Gyms” that exist here is similar to my experience of going to the “Super Grocery Stores.” Â They feel surreal, but I am getting over that feeling as I dive into the diversity that is available: weights, cable pulls, stationary weights, vast diversity of cardio machines and so on.
When I go to the gym, I know that I want to exercise, but I change up the routine. Â Yes, I do cardio, weights, and stretching, but I am making up new exercises that challenge different parts of my body. Â While the time is available, I do 2 hours at the gym with cardio being 50-60%. Â My intensity is now in the doing rather than the amount of weight. Â The creative part keeps my brain engaged as if I am at an adult jungle gym. Â It is fun and a privilege to play at the gym!
(Note: Â After reading the below article, I am not compulsive, but just having fun. Â Good to know.)
Therapeutic benefits of exercise require balance
By Elizabeth Harris
Everywhere you look, students are trying to deal with the stress of balancing school, work, social life and every other worry that consumes the mind of a college student.
Exercise can be a great way to combat everyday stressors. Physical activity can boost natural endorphins, which are essentially the body’s “feel good†mechanisms.
The best part about exercise is that it comes in so many forms; virtually everyone can find a routine that suits them. From weight lifting to cardio workouts, every little bit of physical activity can relieve stress and make you feel better. However, there is such a thing as too much exercise, and it does come with consequences.
According to wellness coach Elizabeth Scott, “Exercise can decrease stress hormones like cortisol and increase endorphins … giving your mood a natural boost.†Scott recommends that the average individual exercise 30 minutes a day, five days a week. The physical activity can be anything from walking or running to biking , rock climbing or weight lifting.
As long as there is a substantial elevation in heart rate, endorphins will be produced, and the individual will inevitably feel better and less stressed.
Exercise can also be used as a remedy to treat nervous tension. According to a study posted on the American Council on Exercise’s website, clinicians measured a decrease in electrical activity of tensed muscles after a session of exercise. The decreased electrical current causes people to be less jittery and hyperactive than before their exercise session.
Although exercise is one of the best ways to combat stress, it is easy for an individual to develop the habit of compulsive exercising.
Also called “obligatory exercise†and anorexia athletica, compulsive exercising “is best defined by an addict’s frame of mind,†according to Dr. Mary Gavin, a medical editor at Kidshealth.org. “He or she no longer chooses to exercise but feels compelled to do so and struggles with guilt and anxiety if he or she doesn’t work out.â€
In a poll conducted in 2009, 85 percent of college students reported being stressed every day. Compulsive exercise, although more common among younger individuals, can affect and harm individuals of any age.
A study conducted for the Psychiatry Research journal revealed that of 589 undergraduate students surveyed about their diet and exercise patterns as well as their lifestyle habits and choices, over 18 percent of them had fallen victim to compulsively exercising.
When an individual begins to compulsively exercise, the health benefits no longer outweigh the costs of working out, and the hyperactivity becomes detrimental to the individual.
“People who exercise compulsively are more prone to injuries, and women may experience menstrual irregularities that make it difficult to conceive, as well as a loss in bone density that increases the risk of stress fractures,†said Kristie Leong, a family physician who often contributes to Internet health blogs.
In the case of compulsive exercise, individuals tend to disregard illness or injury by sticking to their workout regiment despite potential harmful consequences. They tend to stick to a fixed routine and will exercise for several hours a day. Individuals victim to compulsive exercising are, in most cases, constantly thinking about their body shape or weight and feel as if their friends, school, family or job frequently get in the way of exercising.
Another sign of compulsive exercising is weight loss, changes in mood or character, and insomnia. Many individuals begin to compulsively exercise when they feel out of control and think they need to regain control over their life.
Although exercise is beneficial for the body and mind, it is important to find a healthy balance that will keep you physically and psychologically fit. The best solution to avoid compulsive exercising is to set a schedule. If an individual sets a schedule to work out for a certain amount of times each week, it is more likely that the individual will stick to his or her plan and not overdo their workout.