Exercise is a great way to keep healthy but too much of it is dangerous

The ‘good thing’ being referred to here is exercise and yes, there can be too much of that!  As societal norms nowadays place a high value on being fit and thin, exercise seems to provide the perfect means for not only gaining approval but also enhancing self-worth based on appearance and strength.  Thus, individuals are increasingly taking the concept of exercise to extreme and very often not safe levels.

Today over-exercising and severe dieting, an extremely punishing combination on the body and mind, seems to be the route commonly taken, especially by youngsters, in an effort to deal with body image problems.  The basis for this behaviour is more emotional and psychological rather than physical.  One hears statements such as, “Not exercising makes me miserable and it drives me crazy” or “I don’t care about the negative effects, I have to exercise so much or I will turn fat and look horrible”. 

Compounding the problem is the fact that, often, individuals exercise and diet based on random information gathered from friends, the internet, magazines, the friendly gymmer, or worse the ‘professional’ whose knowledge may also be based on the above!  Exercise and nutrition, two important aspects towards leading a healthy life, should be entrusted only to experts professionally qualified to guide you in your quest for a healthy, fit and good-looking body. 

Youngsters routinely go through the entire day without a proper meal, cutting calories, so they can ‘hang-out’ with friends at coffee-shops for that cappuccino and pastry.  Or, to makeup for dining out or even just eating regular meals, they will be pounding the treadmill or cycling furiously to burn off calories consumed, the guilt driving them to punish their bodies with intense exercise. 

They would rather look thin or muscled, as the case may be, than concern themselves with their low energy levels, constant fatigue, sleeplessness and other long-term ill effects, of this extreme behaviour, on their bodies and health.

Then there are the achievement oriented who, in their quest for better health and fitness, go to an extreme. Rather than feeling energised, fitter and healthier they end up exhausted; suffering from chronic fatigue, stress injuries from over-training, and lower immunity against common infections, amongst other physical and psychological effects.  While those involved in sports, dance and similar competitive fields, go beyond the limits of safe due to performance pressures.

Set goals based on your own fitness levels and other lifestyle considerations.  Just because your friend runs six days a week or has been weight training for the last year, doesn’t necessarily mean so can you at the same intensity.

This is where the certified expert comes into play, to set realistic and attainable goals, monitoring your progress to prevent over-exercise and burn-out. To think that, since a little exercise is good for you more must be better, is not necessarily true. 

There comes a time when the body refuses to respond to the punishing demands placed on it. Amongst the many reasons for advocating regular, moderate exercise is its positive effect on mood and stress levels.  However, too much exercise can do just the opposite, creating a negative cycle where, due to fatigue, the quality of workouts decline leading to emotional and psychological lows that include depression, apathy, and lower self esteem.    
The key is moderation.  However boring that may sound.

 
The author is a fitness instructor  and can be contacted at 9880121418