Tips from an Eating Disorder therapist on how to have a healthy relationship with exercise
Listen, I am not here to tell you that exercise is bad for you. It’s actually good for you, but the intention behind the exercise can be bad for you.
There is scientific evidence that shows how exercise improves mood, heart health and can lower stress levels. But over exercising can lead to decreased strength, injuries, low mood, and possible disordered/eating disorder behaviors.
Developing a healthy relationship with exercise requires understanding your intention behind it.
Are you exercising to fit into an ideal body type that is unattainable?
Are you exercising to escape or numb your emotions associated with trauma or low self-esteem?
Are you exercising obsessively where you are beginning to isolate from friends and family?
Once you can understand your intention behind exercise, then you can evaluate on whether this relationship with exercise is healthy or unhealthy.
Now if you are noticing yourself turning down an disordered/unhealthy engagement with exercise, here are some tips to help you “reset” your relationship with exercise…
Change exercise to movement. Instead of saying I need to exercise, try saying “I get to move my body in a way that empowers it.” What movement empowers your body? Running, hiking, swimming, walking, yoga, lifting…. What movement helps me connect to my body’s power?
Take a rest. It’s okay to take a day, week or even a month off from exercise. Maybe you need to take a TIME OUT! If you notice yourself becoming rigid with your workout schedule and starting to isolate/skip social events, maybe it time to slow down. Ask yourself, “Am I allowing exercise to take up too much of life.”
Seek professional help. Reach out to an eating disorder specialist but also… lean on a certified fitness professional. Working with a certified personal trainer can help you develop a balance workout routine. Personal trainers can also help reinforce the importance of rest days and nutrition. Remember to be honest with your trainer about where you are at in your relationship with exercise, so they ensure that you stay on a healthy path with movement.
Stay away from toxic diet culture and/or fitness industry. Stay away from workout classes that make statements like “summer bodies are made in the winter” or “let’s burn off those sweets from last night.” Those messages reinforce diet culture beliefs/behaviors. Also… Every body is a summer body!
Remember exercise should be a celebration of what your body can do!
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