Overexercise

[Aaroneet]

I'm guilty of overexercise to the point where I think I'm addicted to it. For about a month, I would do approximately 75 minutes of cardio; the problem was that I didn't vary my exercise. I just did what would burn the most calories. Not only that, I thought that I desperately needed to lose weight, when I couldn't see that I had lost too much weight. It all started out about a year ago when my mother and I joined Weight Watchers mostly because I sorely needed to lose approximately twenty pounds. She felt, however, that even if I stabilized and improved my conditioning, it would be enough. I was signed up for a gym where the owners, who helped guide me through the circuit, pressured me to lose weight, especially at the beginning. I met my goal weight, but underate in order to do so. Nevertheless, I lost on average about a pound a week, and was praised for it. The praise encouraged me, and I received a subconscious signal that "down" on the scale was the right direction, almost regardless of whether I was at a healthy weight or not. I worked out rigorously unless I had an injury that was severe enough from preventing me from doing so. I always loved food; I now fear eating out.

As a result of my undereating, I became mildly anemic. I never was underweight by medical standards, only by my body standards. Every time I try to work out, my body only breaks down; I wake up sore almost every day. Naturally, it's difficult to stop, but I think I need to. The ironic thing is that my father did the same thing, and now he can't perform any kind of exercise that has a higher impact than walking. I've also suffered a broken foot, as well as back spasms.

There is a normal amount of pain, and then there is a point where you need to draw the line. A seventeen year old should not wake up with the same amount of pain a fifty year old does. The thought of giving up exercise, however, scares me, even if it's for a month, or if I have to give up what I've been doing in favor of something as low impact as walking. It's almost as though I feel that doing so is a form of weakness.

[MollyMac]

Bulimia Athletica as a body dismorphic disorder as real as anorexia nervosa or standard bulimia (purge by regurgitation or laxative). The real bummer about it is three fold:

1) You need to exercise to be healthy, and no one will tell you otherwise
2) The adrenaline and endorphins are a rush and make it addictive
3) Your body begins depleting muscle at rest instead of building it

The good news is that you are aware that this is a problem for you. A normal workout schedule I recommend is to keep working out. It *is* good.

BUT Make a regimine and stick to it. No extra miles literally or figuratively.

In general, 30-45 minutes of moderate cardio 4-5 times a week, and 30 minutes of strength training 3 times a week is considered to be on the healthier end of moderation.

Try just 30 minutes of cardio 4 days a week and strength training for 30 on alternating days. This will allow your muscles to rest more. If that does not work, only work out every other day. Rest is as important at this stage for you as motion.

Also-

EAT. There are calorie estimators online to help you determine how much you shoulf be eating as a minimum. But I believe you should see a nutritionist to determine your best food choices to support an active lifestyle, and also an eating disorder specialist if you cannot break the habit.

One tip- get a hobby that does not involve exercise. It seems silly, but sewing kept a friend off the feeding tube and kept me from headed down the same path. Also, Slow yoga is physical, but relaxing and can help ease your mind. So you trick your brain into the endorphins from stretching your muscles, but without the calorie burn that is eating you.

It may help with soreness. Check out an Iyengar class. They are sloooooow and may help.

Best of luck!

[Solumina]

Molly has a lot of good advice there. Since you are having aches and pains I would say that you should stay away from high impact cardio and stick to something that is a bit easier on your body (running can really strain your body, especially your knees but ellipticals and bikes are much more body friendly). Also try getting a workout that you enjoy, that way it will mentally become about feeling good instead of getting your body to look right (yoga, and Thai Chi are great options as they will also help build up your joint strength and get rid of those aches and pains, dance classes are also a fun option for cardio).

I would also recomend that you see a therapist. What you have is a disorder and professional help could do a lot of good.

[ApothoKeri]

Have you been to the doctor for a blood potassium test? The reason I ask is that you also mention under eating. Naturally a lot of exercise can cause pain...but your body should get used to that, professional athletes and trainers do a lot more than what you describe every day and I am sure that they have their share of pain but yours sounds unusual, especially for your age and how long it has been going on.

But when you take in too few calories (even without exercise), even if you are not technically underweight you can get low potassium very, very easily and when that happens you get SEVERE muscle aches and the worse it gets...over time (remember that your heart is also a muscle) you can get severe heart irregularities when your electrolytes (potassium the big one there) is off balance. You also lose the potassium and electrolytes from sweating during heard exercise. It can be a serious (heart attack out of no where) issue but is also very, very easy to fix and retest and keep on top of.

On top of potassium, even people as young as teenagers get so low on other minerals (from under eating) that the body starts to soak up from too few calories that you can develop Osteoporosis...which usually people do not get until after 50ish. You may want to add in a Calcium tablet (or 2) a day along with your multivitamin. It wouldn't hurt.

[Geoluhread]

Hey
Am sure that no one can add better advices than those mentioned above... Especially by me... I just want to tell you that i feel for you and i hope you get better soon... I really do..

[thekorupt]

Hey Aaron...
Well.. I have a small suggestion. I had some medical issues that led to me not able to eat much, but needing calories. Look into protein shakes and bars. They really help... plus, come on, its chocolate. First, make sure everything you eat has true nutritional value. No "empty calories". As much true nutrition as you can get. Definitely look into potassium. Eat bananas. Go look for a med called Slow-Mag. Its a supplement that is great for muscles, it has both potassium and magnesium. These saved me! Get as much protein as you can.

As has been said... get some counseling, and see a nutritionist. I hope you never get to the point I did with eating disorders.

If you ever need to talk, feel free to email me. My email is on my profile.

My thoughts are with you. *hug*