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Fad Dieters and Compulsive Exercisers
As Americans, we are exposed to thousands of healthy eating and exercise tips every day. Nearly all daytime talk show hosts have aired episodes instructing viewers on how to lose weight, choose healthy foods, exercise, and follow a multitude of other healthy living tips. Unfortunately, some of us tend to take healthy living too far. You may be asking yourself: How can you go too far when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle? Well, in answer to that question, the two most common examples of going too far include fad dieting and compulsive exercising.
Fad-Dieting and Yo-Yo Dieters
Let’s begin with the first group: the fad and “yo-yo” dieters. As the name implies, these are individuals that jump from one diet to the next. You know who they are. They’ve tried every diet in the book: Atkins, Mediterranean, South Beach, Acai Berry, etc. They are those individuals most likely waiting for the next big diet craze to hit the media, so that you can try that one also. These individuals are diet trend followers and the problem with following trends is that they change and unlike a fashion trend where you’re just stuck looking slightly awkward if the trend doesn’t suit you, in the fitness world, you’re stuck with a slower metabolism as a result of following a “diet” trend.
Moreover, fad dieting deprives your body of what it needs to survive. Many of the diets out there ask individuals to give up healthy foods and healthy eating habits in order to lose weight. Isn’t that counterintuitive? In order to be healthy, shouldn’t you eat healthy foods? The answer is yes, but too many diets tell individuals to give up eating green vegetables, carbohydrates, and foods full of cancer fighting antioxidants just to lose a few pounds a week. Your body needs carbohydrates; in fact, glucose which is found in carbohydrates, is the only form of energy your brain uses to function. Ever wonder why you’re not at your best when you’re hungry? Blame the diet you’re on and do yourself a favor: exchange the diet mentality for a healthy lifestyle mentality and you’re bound to reap all the health benefits that come along. And now on to villain number two: over-exercising.
Compulsive Exercisers
Although the concept of compulsive exercising is relatively new and understudied, it is not a new phenomenon. Individuals with certain eating disorders are known to be compulsive exercisers, but someone without an eating disorder can also be identified as a compulsive exerciser. A compulsive exerciser is an individual who allows their exercise regiment and desire to work out to take over their life. These over-exercisers work out despite afflictions from pain and injuries with a single mindedness that leaves no room for any other options. As a result, being a compulsive exerciser can lead to further injuries and other health problems and is associated with a poor body image.
The CDC recommends two hours and a half of moderately intense aerobic activity, such as speed walking, but besides this recommendation there really isn’t a range or scale that measures “too much” exercise. Frankly, if working out is all one can think about or commit to, then the boundary between a healthy fitness routine and an obsession has been crossed.
Overall, it’s about moderation. Watch what you eat, but do not live on and off of diets. Be sure to exercise, but not to the point where exercise is controlling your life. A healthier you will mean some sacrifices, but none of them should be detrimental to your health!
