Exercise Addiction - Excessive Exercise For Men
Is Exercising Too Much A Sign Of Anorexia?

What is exercise addiction? Everyone needs to be active, but when working out interferes with life, it becomes a problem for family and friends alike. If a man (or even a woman) is exercising too much, it may be a sign of an addiction, anorexia nervosa or another eating disorder.

Exercise addiction is something that can slowly creep up on you. Before you know it, you're in over your head. It might start with the gym. Get a membership and plan to work out a few times a week.

Well, that doesn't seem so bad, right? In fact, it's healthy and even encouraged. A lot of people admit to feeling better after a good workout at the gym. They love that adrenaline rush!

For men with anorexia, some could already be suffering from low self esteem and a distorted body image. They may think that they're not muscular enough.

This is what will set the wheels in motion. What started out as an innocent exercise routine a few times a week now becomes a daily thing.

After all, he has to meet his body building goals.

The problem is, for the person who may be suffering from bigorexia (muscle dysmorphia), or a possible eating disorder, those goals might never be reached. Why not?

Exercise Addiction And Muscle Dysmorphia

If someone is suffering from muscle dysmorphia, this could propel them to develop an addiction to exercise. I know that from my experience with anorexia, my weight loss goals would change again as soon as I came close to my original target.

If I sensed that "number x" on the scale was still going to mean that I'd be fat - by my own definition, of course - then the goal weight got lowered ...again. Nothing was ever "low enough".

My sense is that men could be doing something similar. They will never see themselves as "muscular enough" because they can never reach their own self-imposed targets.

Food Restriction & Exercise Addiction

With exercise addiction there's typically some form of food restriction, or manipulation of diet.

Men with anorexia may insist on food with high amounts of protein.

After all, protein helps with building muscle mass.

As in women with anorexia, men may limit their caloric intake and/or use laxatives to purge any unwanted food.

Once some (or all) of the above begins happening, the individual could be exercising several times a day, perhaps switching from weight training to cardio to endurance, and so on.

His workout schedule will probably take priority over anything else, including family gatherings or spending time with the kids.

It's very sad, but it's easy to see how someone could develop an exercise addiction when poor self image is at the root of it.

---------------
Like what you just read? Let us know! Log into your Google account, then click on the "+1" below.
---------------