Compulsion to look thin leads to over-exercise

Press, 20 February 1986, Page 8

Compulsion to look thin leads to over-exercise

9 ~ 1 w-.

By

JUDI SHEPPARD MISSETT

me you an enuiusiosuu exerciser? Do you spend most of your tree time working out — running, cycling, swimming and lifting weights daily? Can you be found running 15 kilometres on your “day off?” When something forces you to miss a workout or, heaven forbid, not exercise at all, do you feel depressed and guilty? If you answered yes to these questions, I have one more to ask you. Are you suffering from an exercise disorder? Eating disorders have ' been a hot topic for ; the past few years. Anorexia nervosa and . bulimia, which currently ‘ afflict thousands of J women and a growing , number of men, are receiving tremendous media attention. But, I am equally conwith an offshoot

of these food fascinations. Our compulsion to look thin and be "in control” of our bodies has triggered another type of disorder — over-exercise. Contrary to popular belief, you can get too much of a good thing, even if it is exercise. And overexercise has a distinct relationship to eating disorders. The same obsession with food that triggers an individual to overeat or undereat can prompt them to create workout schedules to bum off calories which rival those of Olympic athletes. Dealing with these problems begins with a re-examination of food and its role in exercise. All too often food is viewed as the enemy whose detrimental effects (weight gain) must be ex-

orcised tnrougn vigorous workouts. According to Nancy Clark, nutritionist at Sports Medicine Resource, Inc., healthy adjustments in exercise and diet must come from a re-evalua-tion of food. “Food should be seen as an investment in your workout,” she states “not something which destroys your efforts.” She offers these guidelines for approaching food and exercise in a positive manner: • Create a personal weight profile. Record your present weight, normal weight range and your desired weight. Add to this list your lowest and highest weight at your present height. Finally, assess your weight as a child. Were you primarily thin, average or chubby?

Take a look at what you have compiled. This is your personal weight profile. It allows you to examine the path your weight has followed and where that path has brought you today. © Measure your body fat percentage. Underwater weighing or skinfold caliper measurement can give you a more realistic assessment of your body. The bathroom scale does not give you any indication of how much of your body is truly fat and how much is lean body mass (muscle, bones,

fluid). Measuring your body fat percentage will let you know what weight really is right for you and help you to set realistic goals. © Estimate caloric requirements for weight maintenance. Rather than embarking on an extremely restrictive 1000 calorie-a-day diet, determine the amount of daily calories you need to maintain your present weight. This will include calories for your resting metabolism, calories for daily activities and any calories expended during

exercise. (Ask your physician for methods to determine your daily caloric requirement). The total amount needed may surprise you! If weight loss is encouraged after your body fat percentage has been determined, reduce your daily maintenance calories by about 700 calories. This will allow a slow, stready weight loss of about a kilogram a week without limiting you to an unrealistic daily intake of food. Finally, don’t let exercise get the best of you.

Slow down and try to limit your workouts to one activity a day. Set time limits to make sure you do not over-do it. Relaxation is just as important for over-all health as vigorous exercise, so why not schedule an easy workout at least once a week and concentrate on easy stretches and tension relieving exercises? You can start with this head isolation to “I Keep Callin’ ” by Al Jarreau to stretch out your, neck and clear your head. — Copyright Jazzercise