Exercise Abuse
Clinical and research
observations from
Renfrew Treatment Center
Based on research and
clinical and research
observations out of the
Renfrew Treatment
Center, Exercise Abuse
is broadly defined as
any of the following
patterns of behavior:
-
Exercise solely for
weight loss
-
Self-punishment
-
Inappropriate
regulation or
avoidance of
affect/feelings
-
Acquiring “permission”
to eat
-
Identity maintenance
-
All-or-nothing
exercise patterns
-
In obsessive, rigid
patterns
-
To avoid social
interactions
-
When sick, in pain,
injured, physically
fatigued,
malnourished/undernourished
and/or dehydrated.
Excessive Exercise—“too
much” quantity (1000
sit-ups), intensity (85%
vs. 75% of maximum heart
rate), duration
(recommended by the
American College of
Sports and Medacine), or
frequency (2 times in a
24 hour period) of
exercise.
Compulsive Exercise:
Motivation to
exercise—the individual
feels a “need” or
“compulsion” to
exercise. Exercise is
driven by an emotion
(fear/anxiety). May not
mean exercising
excessively in terms of
quantity, frequency,
duration, or intensity.
Obligatory Exercise:
no flexibility regarding
whether or not to
exercise. Not
exercising is not an
option. Relationships
are sacrificed; work,
school and life are
adjusted to allow for
exercise. Exercise is
done regardless of
illness or injury.
Exercise is out of
proportion as a priority
in life.
Fundamental Principals of Exercise:
-
Exercise should
rejuvenate the body,
not exhaust or deplete
it.
-
Exercise should
enhance mind-body
connection and
coordination, not
confuse or dysregulate
the mind-body
relationship
-
Exercise should
alleviate mental and
physical stress, not
contribute to and
exacerbate stress
-
Exercise should
provide pleasure and
be fun, not provide
pain and be dreaded.
Steps to a health
relationship with
Exercise
-
Redefine what is
exercise
-
Provide practical,
reality-based
experiences with
exercise in a safe,
supportive environment
-
Enhance awareness of
and sensitivity to the
body’s physical needs
-
Increase understanding
of the anatomy of the
body and what it needs
to perform
-
Demonstrate exercise
variation, moderation,
functionality, and
proper form
-
Reduce irrational
beliefs and
misinformation
concerning health and
exercise
-
Decrease anxiety and
irrational fear over
“feeling fat”
-
Encourage and support
a kink, caring,
relationship with the
body.
When recovering from
exercise abuse or
disordered eating,
special attention should
be given to
re-introducing exercise
into the lifestyle.
Activities should only
include those the client
has experienced as
enjoyable and explicitly
not to include any
activities that might
trigger abuse. If any
particular exercise
begins to consume their
thoughts, that is a sign
to slow down and relax.
If anxiety about missing
a day of exercise begins
to grow, this is a sign
it is not time to do
more. It is important
to sit with the anxiety
and use the skills and
awareness developed
through treatment to
experience and move
through it, rather than
numbing through exercise
behaviors.
Back to Mandi
Peek, M.S., A.L.P.C.
