Get Fit: Are You Addicted to Exercise?

We’ve heard about the benefits of exercise for years and years. Regular activity helps maintain our weight, prevent heart disease and other illness, improves our mood, gives us more energy, and can also be fun. The question is, when does commitment turn to compulsion?

As a regular runner, I know all too well how one can get swallowed up into a training program. Having been injured, I’ve learned to follow a few key pieces of advice, like not trying to make up for missed miles, and to stop when I feel pain. Paying closer attention helped me reach my 2011 race goals unscathed, yet I still feel like sometimes I’m more enthusiastic than I should be when it comes to exercise.

Yes, I have sacrificed dinners with friends to go running, and I’ve also felt irritable when I miss workouts. But, does that really qualify me as an exercise addict? When should someone start to worry?

I asked Bill Shatraw, DPT, CSCS, the clinical manager at . 

What Are the Causes?

Shatraw explains why it’s easy for a person to overdo physical activity.

"It’s the endorphins. Mentally, you feel great when you’re done. You’re on a high. It’s a chemical and mental factor," he says. "Also, some people may be uneducated, or overeducated, reading so many blogs, hearing different advice from different doctors, reading articles in magazines." 

What Are the Consequences?

"I see it all the time in first-time marathon runners. Some people think they can start training five or six days a week after no training for six months. They feel good right away and do too much. These runners get injured and have to sit out then. It’s a dangerous cycle," says Shatraw. 

What Are the Signs?

"If you’re not staying hydrated enough, or focusing too much on body image issues, there could be a problem," he says. "If you’re constantly tired and fatigued, your body is warning you that it’s overworked. If you feel a small ache, stop. Tone it down. Listen to your body." 

Where is the Balance?

Shatraw says each person should tailor an exercise program suited for his or her personal abilities and lifestyle.

"There are so many different programs. What’s good for one person isn’t good for another. It’s all criterion-based. For example, if you’re a teacher and get home early, and want to train for a marathon, you have the time to do so, but if you have a corporate job and don’t get home until late, it might not be best for you. Take a look at how much time you have, and what distances you’re able to run," he says. "The key is where you can balance workouts into your lifestyle, and it all depends on your personal situation."

If you feel you are endangering yourself, or are injured, seek the care of your doctor.