by Kristin Urbauer

Created on: December 13, 2009

Exercise, like most things in life, is best in moderation. Exercise provides numerous health and even mental benefits, boosting mood, strengthening bones and muscles, and aiding in the prevention of many diseases and conditions. However, even a good thing can be taken to extremes and such is the case with exercise. Exercise can have an addictive quality to it for some people. Too much exercise makes it hard to maintain the proper weight, keeps the body from getting needed rest and repair, and can be part of a vicious cycle of unhealthy behavior.

Exercise is good for the body, in the right proportions. Recommendations include at least 20-30 minutes of exercise 3 times a week, with the upper limits being 45-60 minutes 5-6 times a week. In regard to recommendations in the higher level, experts agree that you must be careful to provide the body with the caloric content it needs to continue functioning at optimal levels. Ideally, you should be receiving these calories from high-quality foods such as fruits and vegetables, lean meats and other proteins, whole grains and dairy products. Additionally, the diet should provide an adequate supply of healthy fats on a daily basis, as fat is an important part of many bodily functions, including those of the brain.

Over-exercising can make keep the body from getting the chance to rest and repair itself. During exercise, muscle fibers are broken down. It is during rest that the body is able to rebuild the tears in these muscle fibers, resulting in bigger muscles and increased strength. Without these important rest and repair cycle being completed, muscles are continually torn down and not repaired. Muscle loss is the actual result, which is not the point of exercise for most people. Additionally, without rest, the body is unable to keep stress-related injuries or over-use symptoms from occurring. Likely results include joint injury, pain and an overall lack of energy as the body tries desperately to complete too many tasks without adequate time.

Finally, exercise can be addictive and may be part of a serious, life-threatening cycle of behavior in some people. Anorexics often use extreme amounts of exercise as part of their rituals, while bulimic individuals will sometimes use exercise to purge themselves of enormous amounts of calories consumed during a binge. If you see yourself beginning to focus on exercise simply as a form of calorie loss or deprivation, as opposed to a healthy part of your lifestyle, be aware that you may be misusing exercise. Addressing these issues with a qualified expert such as a counselor may be advisable, especially if friends or family have mentioned concerns about you in this area.

Used correctly, exercise is an integral piece of a healthy lifestyle, offering many superb benefits to those who participate regularly. Overdone, exercise can be disruptive to an individual's life, destructive to the body, and a sign of more serious illness. If you are participating in large amounts of exercise, be aware for the signs of burnout and fatigue and be careful to provide your body with the calorie and nutrient requirements needed for serious athletic level exercise programs.

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