Are you an obsessive exerciser?

We've all been accused of it at some stage and we've all heard it all before, sayings like "you workout too much", "why don't you take a break", "do you have to go to gym today?". If you have been at the receiving end of these comments you may be labled a compulsive or obsessive exerciser.

Bodybuilding and weight training by it's very nature incorporates a certain degree of compulsive behaviour. Afterall bodybuilding, whether it be pre-contest preparation or off season, requires you to be disciplined in your eating and training so that you can sculpt and build your physique as you imagine it to be. If you're serious about bodybuilding, you'll probably have some compulsiveness in your training and willing to make sacrifices to reach the result you desire. Quite often, training will more than likely dominate your life which can lead to an unbalanced lifestyle.

While it's important to be disciplined in your training, I feel most of us walk a fine line between achieving our own personal health and fitness goals and our obsession with getting to 'peak perfection'. If we continually compare ourselves to others, the more we get obsessed with training and needing to be like our ideals which really defeats the purpose of living a health lifestyle. Instead, we should focus on constantly improving ourselves so that we are reaching our own potential rather than trying to do what others are doing.

But do you know if you are obsessed when it comes to your own your training? I found the following points in the Journal of Sports Medicine Newsletter which may be able to help you identify if you have 'obsessive' traits:

· You force yourself to exercise even if you don't feel well
· You almost never exercise for fun
· Every time you exercise, you go fast or hard as you can
· You experience severe stress and anxiety if you miss a workout
· You calculate how much to exercise based on how much you eat
· You would rather exercise than get together with friends
· You can't relax because you think you're not burning calories
· You worry that you'll gain weight if you skip exercising for one day

How many of the above points could you identify with? I'm sure most of us have been guilty of displaying some of these obsessive signs in our training life. However once you know you are showing the signs of obsessive behaviour you can take action to overcome them. Because if you become obsessive about your training, it can lead to more dangerous eating behaviour such as binging and purging, and ultimately serious mental disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

So how much training is enough? Research has shown that to achieve cardiovascular health you need to participate in at least 3 times 30minute cardio sessions per week. This can include running, jogging, dancing or brisk walking. However if you do more than 6 or 7 sessions per week the benefits you receive from cardio activity will decrease and the risk of injury increases.

Weight trainers will also have to be careful of the number of sessions they workout a week as there is a point of diminishing returns when it comes to the benefits you get from your workout. Overdoing it can tear down muscle tissue instead of building it and also damage ligaments, joints and tendons which would slow down your ability to train with weights.

Overcoming your obsession. The first step to overcoming your obsession is to recognize that you are obsessed. Take an honest look at your current training regime and analyse if you are training too much, and if so why? You may need to enlist the services of a personal trainer, instructor or training partner to give you an unbiased honest opinion of your current regime. They will be able to help you reassess your goals so that you are achieving your potential not what you think you should be at. Once you have sorted out your priorities, you should take time out of the gym and get enjoyment from other activities rather than gym based ones.

Compulsive Exercisers Summary
Bodybuilding and weight training is a fun and challenging form of exercise. It helps us to remain fit, healthy and strong as we go about our daily lives.
As we see favourable changes in our physiques our self-esteem rises, we become more happy and fulfilled which spurs us to work harder.
However it is when we push everything aside in our life for exercise that things can get out of perspective. We become self absorbed in our quest to achieve the 'perfect' body and obsessive in our actions.

It is OK to be constantly trying to improve yourself but not at the detriment of other aspect of your life such as relationship or career. The key is balance. Find it, live it and you'll achieve a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.

Lisa, Go Figure
29 Oct 09