Too Much of a Good Thing: What Does Over-Exercising Really Mean?

As a self-proclaimed magazine fetishist, I can’t resist stopping to take a peek at some of my favorites – SELF, Glamour, StyleWatch and Allure – whenever I pass the newsstand. As I flip through their glossy pages and begin to fantasize about bikini tops, maxi skirts, denim shorts and floppy hats, article titles showcasing tips on weight loss and exercise routines jump out at me.“Drop 10, 20, 30 pounds!” one screams. “Get your best bikini bod!” another advertises. I think back to my own daily exercises, wondering how I can make the time to add these new routines to my regimen. Is it too much? I wonder. Furthermore, how do I know when it’s too much? As health-conscious and constantly on-the-go collegiettes™, it’s often hard for us to gauge whether or not we’re overdoing it and even harder for us to scale back.

We’ve all heard about watching how much we eat, but we rarely hear about watching how much we exercise. Turns out, it’s just as important, because there really is such thing as having too much of a good thing.

What Is Over-Exercising?
Over-exercising is not just about pulling a muscle or lifting more than you can handle; it’s actually a very serious psychological disorder. Doctors and nutritionists say that an addiction to exercise may stem from something you need desperately, but can’t handle emotionally. “It’s brought about because you have a secret,” says nutritionist Lisa Cohn. “You’re keeping a secret from others and most importantly, from yourself.” This “secret” can be anything from insecurity about your weight to feelings of depression, and causes you to develop a strong, very serious addiction to exercise.
 
Like any other addiction, over-exercising causes you to become obsessive. Doctors and nutritionists say that those who are addicted to exercise often spend a large part of their day planning workout routines and schedules for themselves. It becomes very stressful to fit in several hours on the treadmill when you have schoolwork, friends and meals to work around. As a result, those who are addicted to exercise may become more self-restrictive in their diets and social activities. Jane*, a college student who went through a period of overexercising, says that she began to go to the gym in secret to avoid her friends’ disapproval. “I had to sneak out when I wanted to exercise,” she says.