FaSST Feature Article
Are You Addicted?
by
Valerie Gaston
Canada

When was the last time you took a day off from training? If you have to go back months in time to find a blank entry in your training log, you may not only have to worry consider about the possibility of overtraining your body, but perhaps you also have an addiction to exercise.

Skaters enjoying themselves The numerous positive effects of exercise are no secret to anyone. Regular exercise helps provide long-term protection against coronary heart disease, hypertension, cancers, diabetes and osteoporosis. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends adults do 30 minutes or more of moderate intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week. The psychological benefits of exercise may even surpass physiological benefits: enhancing mood and improving psychological functioning, reducing anxiety, depression, stress and tension, improving self-esteem and self-perception and may even show benefits for those experiencing pms. It is also believed that aerobic exercise is better than anaerobic in terms of its positive effects.

So if you are going to be addicted to something, it might as well be exercise, right? Think again! Exercise addiction is thought to share similarities with other addictions, perhaps the most common being the unpleasant affects of withdrawal. The mood enhancing and analgesic properties associated with exercise are influenced by chemicals in the brain which are akin to opiates (endorphins).

Exercise addiction may be based on psychological factors (personality) and physiological mechanisms (endorphin dependence) or an interplay between the two. However, there is a danger of confusing exercise adherence with exercise dependence and exercise addiction. Exercise addiction is not necessarily restricted to high-level athletes. Take this quiz and find out if you should join the Exercisers Addicts Anonymous chapter nearest you.

Exercise Survey
  1. A typical week from your training diary looks something like this:

    Monday intervals, Tuesday weight training, 30km slow skate, Wednesday rest, Thursday intervals, Friday bike ride, Saturday easy skate, Sunday race.
    Monday intervals, Tuesday long skate, Wednesday intervals, Thursday 2 hour bike ride, Friday weight training, yoga, swimming, Saturday race marathon, Sunday 2 hour skate.
    Monday easy skate, Tuesday rest, Wednesday long skate, Thursday bike ride to local corner store for popcorn and a movie, Friday tae-bo, Saturday race, Sunday rest.


  2. If you miss a regularly scheduled training session you feel:

    Relieved and/or happy.
    Anxious and /or guilty.
    Frustrated and/or annoyed.

  3. You severely pulled your groin doing sprints yesterday. Do you:

    Take several Tylenol, suck it up and go train today.
    Ice the area, stretch and take some time off.
    Quit skating.

  4. Your parents are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. There is a dinner party that evening after work, the time you normally train. Do you:

    Miss tonight's training, and eat 2 pieces of cake.
    Go train as you always do, arriving late at the party, once the majority of the guests are gone.
    Try to fit in a shorter workout during lunch.

  5. It has been raining this week so you've had to adapt your training and do indoor workouts.

    You are depressed and irratable all week, in a foul mood.
    You make the best of it and welcome the variety.
    Take the week off until the weather gets nice again.

  6. Your doctor has diagnosed you with bronchitis and has precribed bed rest.

    You take his advice hoping to get better and back to skating as soon as possible.
    Disregard his advice and train anyways.
    Take his advice one step further and cancel your gym membership.

  7. Your job requires you to go on an important 3 day business trip where you will need to work long hours.

    You gladly take the break from training.
    You refuse to go because it will interfere with your exercise protocol.
    You bring some workout clothes and will try to fit in a workout in the hotel gym if you have the time.

  8. Your training schedule is so demanding, you have less time to spend with your partner.

    You try to adapt your training schedule to include activities you can both do together.
    You do not change your training schedule, any changes could mean serious set-backs.
    You stop training.

  9. After a hard workout, you feel:

    Elated.
    Exhausted.
    Like throwing up.

  10. Before a workout you feel:

    Restless and stressed.
    Relaxed and calm.
    Like sitting in front of the TV with a bag of chips.

  11. What are the most important effects of exercise for you:

    This Group:
    1. health and well being
    2. reduced stress
    3. love fitness
    4. feel good
    5. improve general appearance and weight control
    6. stress reduction

    This Group:
    1. general appearance weight control
    2. health and well being
    3. social reasons
    4. fitness improvement
    5. having fun
    6. stress reduction

    This Group:
    1. social reasons
    2. having fun
    3. wearing spandex
    4. working on your tan
    5. being able to eat more junk after
    6. having nice equipment