5 Signs You’re Addicted to Fitness
30th Apr 19
Fitness is an amazing thing to be into. It’s a fundamental part of a healthy and happy lifestyle. It has more benefits than you can count, and developments are being made to it every day! It is genuinely incredible. Like everything, though, too much of it can be harmful, this much we know. What’s worse still is that some people can become addicted to fitness.
It’s unusual but not as uncommon as you may think. Of course, fitness makes you feel good, and people naturally want more of it, which is healthy. When it becomes unhealthy, however, is when it starts taking its toll on your daily life outside of the occasional post-workout ache or DOMS. Nevertheless, there are signs out there for you to spot, so it’s a good idea for you to know what they are and to take a step back now and then to think about your own fitness and of others around you.
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Guilt & Frustration
One of the most significant signs of fitness addiction is along the lines of withdrawal. Addiction is addiction, after all, and the signs are the same. If you have to miss a workout for whatever reason, your reaction can tell you a lot. It’s not unusual to feel a little guilty about maybe taking a lazy day or just not feeling it, but when you have genuine guilt or frustration, there may be an issue. Feeling angry at yourself or anyone else for having to miss the odd workout can be one of the earliest signs to watch for.
Blind Dedication
Another of the biggest hitters of being addicted to fitness is looking at your time management. It’s always a great idea to get a good schedule for your workouts to fit in fitness around your daily life and needs, but it can sometimes become the dominator of your time. Going 6-7 times a week, or even multiple times per day is a huge signifier and danger. You are stifling your progression in your fitness and counteracting other healthy parts of your life. You’ll be bloating your body, straining your muscles and preventing recovery in general. There is just no positive to working out this often, and you need to limit yourself for your own good.
Injuries and Illnesses
If you do happen to sustain an injury in your training, or if you’re training whilst you’re ill, this can be another sign you may be addicted to fitness. Pushing through the pain or bad health to ensure a workout somewhere in your day is not healthy. Your immune system worsens as you over-exercise, and you do more damage, making you ill more often and resulting in a vicious circle of illness. Your injuries can worsen too, and you can cause severe and long-lasting damage to your body.
Sacrificing
Another adverse effect any addiction can have is how it affects the rest of your life. A key sign of being addicted to your fitness is if you are cutting other enjoyable aspects of your life short to make sure that you’re getting in an extra workout. Cancelling plans or passing on your favourite hobbies to get in your workout is not a healthy habit in the long run. Mentally and physically, a fitness addiction can cause massive damage to your mental and your physical health.
Performance in life
Finally, the effects that over-exercising or exercise addiction can have on other areas of life can be detrimental too. You may begin to drop the ball, so to speak, in your work or family life and start to fail in your responsibilities. It’s vital that your fitness is helping your daily life rather than hindering it, and this is one of the most significant issues that this can have, especially if your mind is constantly on your fitness or workouts.
Overall, being addicted to fitness may sound like a dream, but in reality, it’s incredibly detrimental to your physical and mental well-being. You can cause issues in every single aspect of your life, and it is an issue that needs to be recognised and addressed. Different motives can get the ball rolling, especially with seasonal events like summer bodies and the new year causing pressure to improve yourself, but you can have too much of a good thing. Make sure you’re doing what’s best for you and not what you think you should be doing. Being happy and healthy is above all else.
Before beginning any exercise or nutrition program, consult your physician, doctor or other professional. This is especially important for individuals over the age of 35 or persons with pre-existing health problems. Exercise.co.uk assumes no responsibility for personal injury or property damage sustained using our advice.
If you experience dizziness, nausea, chest pain, or any other abnormal symptoms, stop the workout at once and consult a physician or doctor immediately.
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