Exercise Can Be Unhealthy, Too. Here Are 3 Red Flags to Look For

We know that exercise is good for the body, but what about the mind? In general, the answer is a resounding yes. However, there are times when the goals we set for ourselves can be undone if exercise takes over other aspects of our lives. It should be one of many tools to help us stay healthy, feel stronger, or have fun.

When you think about the gym, it’s often through the lens of how you view your body due to social pressures. But you relation to fitness it is much deeper than that. It’s important to explore your exercise habits and rituals and watch for signs that they’ve become more harmful than helpful.

How exercise affects physical and mental health

Physical movement is a crucial part of wellness, no matter what form it takes. The last thing we want to do is convince you otherwise. By integrating exercise into your lifestyle, you can reduce the risk of developing health problems such as heart attacks, high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, and type 2 diabetes.

Beyond your body, exercise can also have a positive impact on your mental health. You can use exercise and workouts to manage everyday stressors and navigate emotions.

“Exercise decreases anxiety, increases optimism and leads to a better quality of life,” he says. L. Kevin Chapman, licensed clinical psychologist. “For significant emotional symptoms, exercise is a useful addition to therapy, not a useful replacement. For general stress, exercise is excellent.”

There are many ways to exercise help your mental health:

However, exercising is not the only tool you should use to improve your mental health.

Signs that your gym habit might not be healthy

In some cases, there is a limit to what a healthy relationship with the gym can look like. A dependency of the gym as a coping mechanism can negatively affect your mental health.

“Exercise can also be a form of emotional escape if done in excess,” says Chapman. “In other words, if I use exercise or any other ‘prosocial’ behavior to avoid the experience of anxiety, it might reinforce the idea that anxiety is dangerous and that the only way I can control anxiety is through exercise”.

Sometimes, it is difficult to detect. And it can even happen without you realizing it. Here are some warning signs that your relationship with exercise could be harmful.

1. You never take breaks

One sign that your relationship is in trouble is if you overtrain or push yourself too hard, even during illness or injury. overtraining syndrome it’s common among gym-goers to push themselves through a series of high-intensity workouts without adequate rest and recovery time.

Not only does this put significant strain on your body, but depriving your body of energy can lead to dysfunctional adaptations on your metabolism, immune system, and hormones.

It is essential to give your body a chance to rest. Yes, consistency is important, but so is giving your body a break. Rest days give your body time to recover and your muscles time to grow. Your days off can include gentle stretching or watching your favorite TV show; is what works for you.

2. You feel guilty if you don’t go to the gym

Even the most consistent gym goer loses days; sometimes life gets in the way, or we just aren’t ready for it. And that’s fine. We should not feel guilt or anxiety, or overestimate the negative consequences of missing a workout.

When you think you’re not doing enough to reach the goals you’ve set for yourself or for set of social norms for you, you may feel shame and guilt about not reaching your goals. Low levels of this are natural, we are human. But ongoing or severe guilt is cause for concern. Breaking the cycle of feeling bad if you don’t go to the gym will help you develop a healthier relationship with exercise.

3. You are using exercise to control your body

If you’re worried that your relationship with exercise is becoming problematic, think about why you exercise. Are you trying to be healthier? Or do you just go hoping to change your body?

If you use the gym to control your body, it can become a obsession that can cause or increase appearance anxiety, exercise addiction, and body dysmorphia. One sign of this could be exercising more or increasing your training to compensate for the food you have eaten. It’s okay to have weight loss goals, they just need to be realistic and achievable for your body. Remember that food is important, and it is something we have to compensate for.

Exercise is not a replacement for therapy

Many people use exercise as a way to relieve anxiety. For everyday stressors, this is perfectly fine and even recommended. But it can become risky if your exercise habits are only coping method to deal with your problems.

Ask yourself if this behavior is making you more distressed or affecting your functioning in any way. If the answer is yes, according to Chapman, “that implies that additional assistance may be necessary.”

Sometimes the best option is to skip the personal trainer and seek professional help to deal with life’s challenges. Some issues need real mental health support, and you should feel empowered to get it, in whatever way works for you, whether it’s online or in person.

If you think your relationship with exercise is becoming unhealthy, try to resolve any negative associations you have with yourself. You will be happier and healthier in the long run.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health care provider regarding any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or health goals.